The music from Fela! can only be described as infectious.

The Broadway musical that won the 2010 Tony for best Choreography certainly deserves its praises in regards to dance- but the show’s music is worthy of recognition as well. Presented by the Shakespeare Theatre Company, the Broadway World Tour of Fela! opened at STC’s Harmon Hall this past weekend to the fusion of Jazz, Cuban, and Big Band beats that make-up Fela Anikulapo-Kuti’s iconic Afrobeat genre. When the lights went down and the sound rose up, audience members were already dancing in their seats as the stage was transformed into Kuti’s nightclub, The Shrine. Fela! takes us into the life of Kuti’s life as a Nigerian musician/activist/social leader.

Inside the club we find Fela (Sahr Ngaujah), a man who knows how to belt out a tune and how to play an instrument or two. Using the premise of Fela’s last performance at The Shrine, we are transported through various scenes of his life including his time in America, his rise as a musician, activist, and leader; and the destruction of the Kalakuta Republic, his private compound/artistic commune.

Ngaujah handles the role of Fela with the same energy, charm, and intensity that earned him accolades on Broadway. He acts almost as an emcee for the night, giving the show a concert-like format. Be prepared to stand-up, sing, and dance along with Fela and his ensemble of merry dancers. They are certainly more talented in the steps department but the atmosphere Ngaujah creates makes you want to try regardless of ability.

Bill T. Jones’ choreography is some of the best I’ve seen and has a raw quality to it. The tempo is frenetic and the women know how to bring the boys to the yard with all the booty shaking on display. It’s as if somebody mashed-up a National Geographic documentary with a Hip-Hop video. The lighting and A/V goes above and beyond with elaborate pattern effects and a creepy “Holo Mom” that steals any scene concerning Fela’s late mother Funmilayo (Melanie Marshall).

However the show isn’t exactly one big party. The first act is a happy oasis of song and dance but the show struggles to maintain that energy in the second half. Clocking in a 3 hours, you really feel the time go by after the intermission- where the story focuses more on Kuti’s clash with the Nigerian government. The show’s peak, a number  where Fela goes on a vision quest for his mother’s blessing, puts on the brakes to the music-fest and quickly sobers the audience in a way that’s not necessarily good.

Fela’s Nigerian accent also makes it hard to understand every lyric and line in the show- however the production was smart enough to caption the musical numbers to ensure the audience understands the poetry of Kuti’s melodies.

Regardless of the show’s flaws, producers Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter, Will Smith, and Jada Pinkett Smith have created a musical that approaches the life of Fela Anikulapo-Kuti and celebrates it without going down the traditional biopic route. Don’t get too hung up on understanding the plot- just sit back and enjoy the impressive array of Afrobeat music and dance.

The Shakespeare Theatre Company presents Fela! playing now through October 9th at Sidney Harman Hall, located at 610 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20004. Closest Metro: Gallery Place-Chinatown (Red/Green/Yellow). For more information call (202) 547-1122.

Patrick Pho

Patrick has been blogging since before it was called blogging. At We Love DC Patrick covers local Theatre, and whatever catches his eye. Patrick’s blog stories, rants, and opinions have been featured in The Washington City Paper, Washington Post Express, CNN, Newschannel 8 Washington, and NBC Washington. See why Patrick loves DC.

You can e-mail him at ppho [at] welovedc.com