![\"(L-R)](\"https:\/\/itsnotaboutme.tv\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/thumbnail_ERT_AINT-MISBEHAVIN-Company_Photo-by-Craig-Schwartz-e1684879640158.png\")
<\/a>(L-R) Wilkie Ferguson III, Marty Austin Lamar, Connie Jackson, Natalie Wachen, and Yvette Cason. Photo by Craig Schwartz, as is the one at the top of this review.<\/p><\/div>\n
So for my fellow SoCal denizens who are smart enough to stay in town this upcoming holiday week-end, I heavily suggest that you use part of it to see this show. (It’s due to close on May 28th, so keep that in mind. All the info is at the bottom of this review.)<\/p>\n
I wanted to see Ain’t Misbehavin’<\/em>\u00a0so badly last week-end that I actually passed on watching an NBA play-off game live<\/em> to do so! Those of you who know about my sports obsession understand what a big deal that is. But I had confidence that\u00a0Ain’t Misbehavin’<\/em>\u00a0would be worthy of that sacrifice because of the previous presentations I’ve seen from the Ebony Repertory Theatre. Also, I had seen a production of this musical at the Ahmanson a long while ago, so I knew that it’s a really fun show. (And as soon as I looked in my program and noticed that Yvette Cason is in it, and John Iacovelli had designed the set, that confidence grew.)<\/p>\n (L-R) Connie Jackson, Natalie Wachen, Wilkie Ferguson III, and William Foster McDaniel at the piano. Photo by Craig Schwartz.<\/p><\/div>\n And I was well-rewarded with a production that is so<\/em> good, in fact, that I never once looked at the time! I think that’s a first!<\/p>\n If the title sounds familiar, that’s because it’s the 1978 Tony-winning Broadway musical which was inspired by, and features, the music of Fats Waller, which made a star out of the late *Nell Carter, who won a Tony for her performance, as well. Although many of the songs in it are by other composers and lyricists, Fats is the person who popularized all of them. And he wrote the music for the classic title tune. *[Note: I share a personal story about Nell at the end of this review.]<\/p>\n One cozy corner of the spacious Nate Holden Performing Arts Center lobby. Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n Before I laud everything about this classic musical, I must first give props to the Nate Holden theatre itself. I’ve had a fondness for the place ever since I first visited over a dozen years ago, so I was happy to introduce my friend Marc to it. I’m proud to say that all<\/em> of his first visits to\u00a0every<\/em>\u00a0theatre in Los Angeles have been with me, and I’ve enjoyed seeing his reactions to them. And I’m happy to report that he went nuts over this one! (And over the show itself, too, of course.) The place is soooo comfortable, with a gigantic lobby, to boot. And there’s free valet parking attached! I especially respect that no\u00a0gum<\/em>\u00a0is allowed in the actual theater, along with the banning of food and drinks. Perhaps that’s why it’s stayed so beautiful for all these years.<\/p>\n Now to the production itself. The night we were there, there was a party atmosphere all around. The actors, musicians, and audience were all in it together. The enthusiastic audience cheered from the get-go: first when the musicians came on stage, then again for the conductor, and then for the cast.<\/p>\n Yvette Cason and Marty Austin Lamar. Photo by Craig Schwartz.<\/p><\/div>\n Ain’t Misbehavin’<\/em>\u00a0is basically a revue, which means it\u2019s just songs with no actual story. But it\u2019s not just\u00a0singing<\/em>\u2014it\u2019s charming and incredible performances, with perfect movement and choreography by Dominique Kelley, all directed by Wren T. Brown. That pair makes excellent use of the various talents of the performers.<\/p>\n The quintet of gifted actors\u2014ladies Yvette Cason, Connie Jackson, and Natalie Wachen, and gentlemen Wilkie Ferguson, III and the amazingly light-on-his-feet Marty Austin Lamar\u2014are all first-rate, and sell every moment of the action. They’re a great mix of voices, physicalities, and personalities.<\/p>\n This is the fourth time I\u2019ve seen the wonderful Yvette Cason, but the other performers were new to me; I hope to see them all again soon.<\/p>\n And let’s not forget the on-stage musicians: Land Richards, Keith Fiddmont, Fernando Pullum, and Dwayne \u201cAugie\u201d Augustine, all led by Musical Director William Foster McDaniel on piano. We all stayed after the curtain call to hear the musicians finish-up, and applaud them once again.<\/p>\n The musicians. (L-R) Musical Director William Foster McDaniel, Dwayne \u201cAugie\u201d Augustine, Keith Fiddmont, Land Richards, and Fernando Pullum. Photo by Craig Schwartz.<\/p><\/div>\n The setting of Ain’t Misbehavin’<\/em> is a cocktail party in a brownstone in Harlem circa the ’20s and ’30s. To that end, the set is perfection! But I wasn\u2019t surprised because it was designed by the late *John Iacovelli, whose sets I have lauded many a time through the years.\u00a0 This one really set the scene. Many years ago, when a friend of mine inherited a similar gigantic and old-fashioned brownstone in the Clinton Hill section of Brooklyn, I had the good fortune to explore that time warp. And let me tell you, that is exactly what this set evoked! *[Note: There’s a bit more on Mr. Iacovelli at the end of this review.]<\/p>\n Actually, everything<\/em> about the presentation made me feel like I was in the ’20s or \u201930s during it, especially the fabulous old-fashioned songs. (This is a musical<\/em>, after all.) In addition to the title tune, there are plenty of well-known ones, including a few where the audience gets to sing along a bit. Some you might recognize are The Joint Is Jumpin\u2019<\/em>, Honeysuckle Rose<\/em>, and I\u2019m Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter<\/em>, which I first heard as a little girl!<\/p>\n The cast performing “Black and Blue.” Photo by Craig Schwartz.<\/p><\/div>\n I loved hearing Your Feet\u2019s Too Big<\/em>, which I’ve always gotten a kick out of, possibly because that is something no one can ever say about me<\/em>. (Once when I was getting a massage, the masseuse stated laughing when she got to my feet, and explained that’s because of my \u201ccute little cartoon toes!\u201d Oysh.)<\/p>\n The most powerful parts of the show are when the cast sings together, even in the comic songs, (which most of them are.) But Black and Blue<\/em>, Act Two’s penultimate number, (before the \u201cFinale\u201d of a handful of upbeat songs, which reminded me of the end of a fireworks display, when many of the best ones are shot into the sky together,) broke my soul. I\u2019ve never truly listened to\/understood the words before.\u00a0 [Note: In the theatre, just as I wrote that note after the assemblage performed that song, Marc leaned over to me and whispered, \u201cPowerful,\u201d as well. And we rarely agree on anything!]<\/p>\n Speaking of agreeing, I think that everyone who has seen this latest rendition of Ain\u2019t Misbehavin’<\/em> agrees that it’s an uber-worthwhile evening (or afternoon) of theatre. So I highly recommend it to everyone. And remember\u2014this Thursday-Sunday is your last chance to see it before it closes!<\/p>\n Ain\u2019t Misbehavin’<\/em> running through May 28, 2023<\/strong> Now here are the aforementioned two notes I want to share with you:<\/p>\n One of John Iacovelli’s previous sets. Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n The very sad one is that I was shocked and overwhelmed when I saw a beautiful note by Wren T. Brown in the program to set designer John Iacovelli that began, \u201cBeloved John, You were<\/em>…\u201d I had just been hoping that Mr. Iacovelli would be happy when he read another appreciative review from me. I had no idea that he had passed just a month ago! I feel awful for the loss to the world, of the man and all the beauty he had yet to create. My heart goes out to everyone who loved and admired him. May he rest in peace. I’m especially sick that I hadn\u2019t taken a picture of his beautiful set to share with you.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a>
\n Nate Holden Performing Arts Center<\/strong>
\n 4718 West Washington Boulevard \u00a0Los Angeles<\/strong>
\n 323-964-9766\u00a0www.ebonyrep.org<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/a>