"A Wonderful World" honors the exceptional musician Louis Armstrong
Among the many jazz performers who made themselves noticeably recognizable, Louis Armstrong particularly stands out. His sharp trumpet playing, his raucous singing voice and his broad sense of humor easily identified him as an iconic figure, way above others. During the course of his long career, he succeeded in turning a flurry of tunes into pop hits, a rarity in the field of jazz, notably “Basin Street Blues”, “Black and Blue”, “St. James Infirmary”, “You Rascal You”, “Tiger Rag”, “Kiss of Fire”, “When You’re Smiling”, “When the Saints Go Marching In”, “Avalon” and of course “Hello, Dolly!” and “What a Wonderful World”. All of them reprised here among a profuse list of 30 musical numbers, arranged and orchestrated by Branford Marsalis, used to illustrate the show with the last one becoming the title of this new musical that celebrates him.
It seems anyone pretending to portray him on stage or screen would face a major problem, but James Monroe Iglehart, who had already made such a positive impression as the Genie in Disney’s “Aladdin” and again more recently as King Arthur in the revival of “Monty Python’s Spamalot”, dominates the show in a Tony Award-winning performance that is totally convincing, as an actor, singer and trumpet player.
The show, conceived by Andrew Delaplaine and Christopher Renshaw, with a book by Aurin Squire, follows with firm precision the various episodes in the life of Armstrong, from his debut in New Orleans, where he was born in 1901, in the late 1910s; his tenure with his mentor King Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band in Chicago in the 1920s, before he formed his own group; his time in Hollywood in the 1930s, with multiple appearances in films like “Artists and Models”, “Every Day’s a Holiday”, “Birth of the Blues” and “Cabin in the Sky”; and his long existence in New York, that became his base in the 1950s until his death in 1971. Along the way, the show details moments in his personal life that resulted in many relationships and four marriages.
Featuring a large cast, it is a magnificent example of a jukebox musical, and remains for the most part true to the character it depicts, and the various individuals who played a role in his life and helped him achieve his renown. As his wives, Dionne Figgins as Daisy Parker, Jennie Harney-Fleming as Lil Hardin, Kim Exum as Alpha Smith and Darlesia Cearcy as Lucille Wilson give solid vocal and acting performances, even if all four adopt a style of vocalizing and harmonizing that’s more contemporary than the one, less flourished and more realistic, displayed at the time by the various female singers of the era.
Other members, Gavin Gregory as King Oliver, Renell Taylor as Banjo Ben, Jason Forbach as a Crooner, and Brandon Louis Armstrong, Wesley J. Barnes, Ronnie S. Bowman, Jr. and Brett Sturgis as Armstrong’s side musicians, stand out in the scenes in which they appear. Special mention must also be made about the many exciting dancers, male and female, all clad in the beautiful costumes designed by Toni-Leslie James, who perform several tap numbers under the tight direction of choreographer Rickey Tripp.
Christopher Renshaw directed the whole ensemble with flair, in the monochromatic settings provided by Adam Koch and Steven Royal, occasionally lit by Cory Pattak – all of them proficient technicians. Overall, “A Wonderful World” stands out as a magical theatre production, with a familiar feeling that harks back to the days when musicals were lavish and greatly entertaining.
Music Direction: Darryl G. Ivey • Choreography and Musical Staging: Rickey Tripp • Tap Choreography: Dewitt Fleming, Jr. • Scenic and Video Design: Adam Koch und Stephen Royal • Costume Design: Toni-Leslie James • Lighting Design: Cory Pattak • Sound Design: Kai Harada • With: James Monroe Iglehart (Louis Armstrong), Darlesia Cearcy (Lucille Wilson), Kim Exum (Alpha Smith), Dionne Figgins (Daisy Parker), Jennie Harney-Fleming (Lil Hardin), Dewitt Fleming Jr. (Lincoln Perry), Jason Forbach (Crooner and others), Gavin Gregory (King Joe Oliver), Jimmy Smagula (Joe Glaser) and others
Cover photo: Jeremy Daniel