Reviewed by James Karas
Hell’s Kitchen is a lights and sound
musical extravaganza that was greeted enthusiastically by the audience at the CAA
Ed Mirvish Thatre. It is based on the story of Ali, a rebellious but talented 17-year-old
girl from a dysfunctional family in a neighbourhood on the west side of Manhattan
in New York City
Ali (Maya Drake) lives in the
Manhattan Plaza complex with her over-protective mother, Jersey (Kennedy
Caughell). Ali meets Knuck (Jonavery Worrell), a bucket drummer and tries to
establish a relationship with him. Her mother disapproves, calls the police and
puts an end to it. But Ali also meets Miss Liza Jane (Roz White), a humane and
talented pianist in Ellington, the building’s music room who befriends her and
influences her musical talents.
The tension between Ali and Jersey increases
especially when the mother finds out that Ali and Knuck had sex and he finds
out that she is only seventeen years old. In a last-ditch effort to connect
with Ali, Jersey calls on her estranged husband Davis (Desmond Sean Ellington),
a pianist, of whom she is contemptuous for his unreliability and dishonesty.
Events take their course. Knuck leaves
New York, Miss Liza Jane dies and Davis fails to appear for dinner with Ali and
Jersey. But the two women have found a type of reconciliation, not perfect but
workable and Ali wants to continue with her music.
There are several other characters
that make up the community of Manhattan Plaza including a Dance Ensemble that
is ever ready to perform vibrant and superb dance routines at the drop of a pin
as they say. The variety and splendid routines are chorography by Camille A.
Brown.
Photo: Marc J Franklin
Unfortunately, I could not enjoy
the volume at which all is done. We expect a musical to wow or try to wow the audience,
but I can’t fathom sounds that are almost ear-splitting. The band, especially
the percussion, played with unceasing enthusiasm and similar volume. With that
in the background, the singers had to sing at the top of their lungs that at
times sounded almost like a shriek. Is it necessary or is that style of
vocalizing de rigueur with the young? When Kennedy Caughell reached her
highest notes and broke into almost falsetto
range, the audience applauded wildly. I felt as if there was a competition between singers and musicians as to who can be
louder.
Hell’s Kitchen marks Maya Drake’s debut
in a major role and she deserves and got a standing ovation. As the rebellious
teenager, she showed spunk and as a performer she displayed vocal and acting
ability. She had to deal with an over-protective mother (in her view), find out
that she has an unreliable father and luck into a talented pianist, wonderful
teacher and decent human being in Miss Liza Jane. Those are the qualities that
Roz White brings to the character that she plays superbly.
Caughell’s Jersey is a good mother
who has her hands full with Ali who goes out with an older man, Knuck, and she
calls the police on him. He is with an underage girl. That does not help her
relationship with her daughter but to their credit they reach a compromise. Caughell
has a big fine voice but at times she came in second to the volume fight with
the band.
Desmond Sean Ellington as Davis
plays the piano, acts and sings well, but his character lacks the fibre to be a
good husband or father. Worrell’s Knuck is a decent human being who gets a rough
ride from the police and is basically chased out of town. He is done well by
Worrell and may be yet another example of someone whose fate is decided by the
color of his skin rather than the content of his character.
Director Michael Greif handles the myriad demands of a big musical with expertise and earns the standing ovation at the end.
______________________
Hell’s
Kitchen by Alicia Keys (music and lyrics) and
Kristoffer Diaz (book) continues until October 25, 2026, at the CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre, 244
Victoria St. Toronto, Ontario. www.mirvish.com
James Karas is the Cullture editoer of The Greek Press, Toronto
