There is not a lot of certainty in today's world. The world may seem on 33 and 1/3 and you're on 33. There is one thing that I can count on when I watch a Black Ensemble Theater production—fantastic music! The latest from theater maven Jackie Taylor is Blue Eyed Soul Sung by Brown Eyed People and it is straight out of the Baby Boomer generation. This show has all the songs that made it to the far end of the radio dial because the music and the singers had a special ingredient that transcended race or eye color. It was soul power sung from the gut and lettin' your backbone slip.
This musical review is set up like a variety show with a cast of singers from BET backed by the house band. The characters had different qualities that made this thing called Soul. The Seven Essences of Life is convened by the Essence called Voice (the fabulous Rhonda Preston) with three Historians to explain Soul music. The Essences are Soul (Direcoce Junirs), Passion (Britt Edwards), Humanity (Tia Jemison), Mind (Vincent Jordan), Intellect (Taryn Welch), and Spirit (Dwight Neal).
The Historians—Barthalamul (Dennis Dent), Othello (Trequon Tate), and Lydaya (Raeven Carroll)— provide background on the different songs. I did not know that the Righteous Brothers were named after performing at a military base. After they sang a Black soldier shouted, "That was Righteous, Brother!" You never know when or where you will find your calling or what you are called. The HIstorians get some of the best comedy lines in the show. I have seen Dent previously in The Salon as an undercover millionaire in disguise as the guy who can sell you anything including a cup of ice. Tate and Carroll were also in The Salon and it is wonderful to see their singing talents given more time.
Vincent Jordan is a joy to watch because he seems to be having a great time singing. It never feels forced. Jordan has been in many BET productions including the holiday classic The Other Cinderella. Direoce Junirs has an operatic bass/baritone that brought "You've Lost That Loving Feeling" to life in a duet with Jordan. Edwards as Passion was quite funny and it is almost hard to believe that all of that voice came out of her tiny frame. The woman can sing. Rhonda Preston is perfect as the leading Essence. She jammed in Women of Soul at the Mercury Theater. Tia Jemison is new to me as a reviewer but I suspect I will see more of her on Chicago stages. She plays the elegant Humanity with a queenly demanor that makes you sit up and take notice.
Taryn Welch as Intellect quarrels with Mind (Jordan) bringing the banned emotion of Jealousy to the Essences. Voice puts the kibosh on it explaining that every Essence is needed to make Soul music with the extra ingredient of love. Taylor's script calls for peace and harmony no matter our differences. Dwight Neal was a replacement for LaRon Jones in this performance and he has the energy and gorgeous voice that can and should be in the spotlight.
The songs covered the era of the late '50s and the audience was encouraged to join in and sing "Taking It to the Streets", "Vision of Love", "Crystal Blue Persuasion", and a fantastic Tom Jones medley. Hall and Oates are represented as was Foreigner's anthem " I Want to Know What Love Is." The Young Rascals, Ambrosia, and of course Elvis.
I have a major quibble about one song in particular. Photos of the various groups are featured on side panels. When "You Don't Know What It's Like to Love Somebody" was sung, Michael Bolton with mullet and sans mullet appeared. The groan from the audience was audible. That song was written by Barry and Robin Gibb of the BeeGees and it was one of the last songs that Otis Redding recorded. Bolton appropriated several Soul songs over his career including "When a Man Loves a Woman." He most egregiously claimed to write "Love is a Wonderful Thing" and lifted quite a bit of the melody from the Isley Brothers song of the same name! Bolton got sued and lost. He claimed he had never heard the original. Faux pas.
One other thing is that "Vision of Love" was sung by Mariah Carey who is racially mixed with Black. The song was written by Ben and Carey Margulies who are Caucasian. The Historians should have dropped that knowledge to give credit where it is due. A picture of the songwriters would have been nice if not as pretty as Carey's. Maybe that can be fixed. I am not the only one who noticed. People were heard commenting, "Isn't Mariah Carey Black?" Quibble.
Major props to the BET house band led by music director Robert Reddrick on drums. Reddrick also sang lead on "Higher Love". Oscar Brown Jr. plays guitar, Walter Harrington is on bass, and Adam Sherrod plays keyboards. As always they were a tight band picking every nuance of the music and accompanying the singers beautifully. I liked the understated set design and lighting by Denise Karczewski. The setting was dubbed "The Oracle" and it was fitting with clean lines and soft lighting.
Jackie Taylor wrote and directed Blue Eyed Soul Sung by Brown Eyed People. All of the hallmarks of Black Ensemble Theater come from the mind and soul of Taylor. Her work has a formula that curates the music and the storylines to let Black people see themselves on stage without being denigrated or stereotyped. The audiences are diverse and know that a good story will be told and a good time will be had. I recommend Blue Eyed Soul Sung by Brown Eyed People, for some good music and wonderful performances.
Blue Eyed Soul Sung by Brown Eyed People runs through November 10 at the Black Ensemble Theater Cultural Center, 4450 N. Clark St. For tickets and more information please visit www.blackensembletheater.org
For more information on this and other plays, see theatreinchicago.com.
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