Play On! | Short Review

Laura Lott
Friday, September 27, 2024

Talawa Theatre Company's musical adaptation of Twelfth Night is sure to delight fans of Duke Ellington

A smoky jazz club in 1940s Harlem is the unexpected setting for this reimagining of Shakespeare’s romantic comedy Twelfth Night, produced by Talawa Theatre Company and featuring the music of Duke Ellington.

The cast throw themselves into the tale of lovelorn suitors and mistaken identity with gusto, and Tsemaye Bob-Egbe is a charming Viola/Vyman, but Koko Alexandra steals the show with her bold, besequinned Lady Liv, whose stunning vocal riffs show exactly why she has so many admirers.

The characters are lightly drawn, and at times the pace drags as we're presented with one sultry ballad after another, but fans of Ellington's music will find plenty to enjoy here.

Play On! plays at the Belgrade Theatre, Coventry until 5 October 2025 and tours until 22 February 2025. For more information and tickets, visit Talawa Theatre Company.

You can read our full-page review in November issue of Musicals magazine, on sale 26 October – consider subscribing today!