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An awesome and ridiculous film that leaves you thrilled beyond the point of your natural endurance
2012
Theatre
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Music
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Always been a fan but never seen them live. I was ecstatic to be part of this epic event. WOW!
London,
Sarah Frater's rating
Reader rating
Dir: Kerry Michael, Dawn Reid, Jackie Guy (choreography).
Cast: Rolan Bell, Jacqui Dubois, Derek Elroy, Victor Romero Evans, Joanna Francis, Matthew J Henry, Marlon King, Susan Lawson-Reynolds, Joy Mack, Marcus Powell, Joe Speare, Chris Tummings
Description: Perry Henzell's stage adaptation of the 1970s film, in which a young reggae singer goes to Kingston, Jamaica, with dreams of becoming a star. Directed by Kerry Michael and Dawn Reid. Contains strong language, not suitable for under 12s.
Trains: Tube/BR: Barbican/Moorgate 
Phone: 0845120 7550
Website: www.barbican.org.uk
Email: info@barbican.org.uk
Extra info: Food, Pub, Parking
Irrepressible energy: Pinky (Susan Lawson-Reynolds), Ivan (Rolan Bell) and Jose (Joe Speare)
After two sell-out runs at Theatre Royal Stratford East, first in March 2006 then in February 2007, it's great to see reggae musical The Harder They Come loosen up the venerable old Barbican. You can almost feel London's soberest concert hall boogie on down as the exuberant cast, many from the original run, belt out classics including Higher and Higher and You Can Get It If You Really Want It. And as they sing, they snake-hip their way through shimmy-shake routines, small moves growing to big grooves, with the group dancing truly irresistible.
You wonder if Stratford East director Kerry Michael realised the show would be such a hit. Admittedly, there's a big market for pop-tune musicals (Abba, Queen, etc), and, as Harder is based on Perry Henzell's cult reggae film starring Jimmy Cliff, it features some all-time reggae greats.
But the Jamaican film, which is credited with bringing reggae to a world audience, also features a much darker tale of drugs and guns and innocence corrupted, themes that are painfully familiar to anyone who reads today's headlines.
Michael could easily have caved in and given his version of Harder a conventionally happy ending, yet by keeping the original he ensures the feel-good moves serve a serious purpose.
The Harder They Come is the story of wide-eyed Ivan who comes to Kingston with dreams of reggae stardom. He soon sees it's a cut-throat world, with every profit-carving shark after a piece of his talent. To avoid their clutches, he deals drugs - but drugs lead to guns, and guns to tragedy.
Rolan Bell as Ivan dominates every scene he's in. The young Hammersmith College-trained actor-dancer has an irrepressible energy and authentic innocence that are spot on for the lead role. His only shortcoming is a light voice, which is often overpowered by the excellent reggae band. No such reservations with Joanna Francis, who plays Ivan's sweetheart Elsa. This girl has the chops.
Also excellent is the sense of musical journey, from gospel to reggae, and the designs which ooze Seventies retro chic - the Afro hairdos are fabulous. Less good is the run time (it's a three long hours) and some of the movement direction, which looks stilted. By that I mean the cast don't always move with the jiving smoothness you'd expect. And the last quarter of the show needs pruning. Excepting these faults, The Harder They Come is a Caribbean cracker.
• Until 5 April. Information: 0845 120 7511, www.barbican.org.uk.
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
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It's far from a great show, but there is one very compelling reason to go see it, and that's Joanna Francis. I was lucky enough to be sitting near the front of the stalls and it was like listening to Aretha Franklin from ten feet away. I've never heard singing like that in a musical. Wild, raw, incredibly powerful.
- Andrew Roberts, London
Having seen the show, I think that there is little in London to beat its raw energy and exuberance. At times the band may have been loud but the show does celebrate music! Where else in London can you see a show with a live band that actually gets the audience up and dancing yet delivers a message? The darker elements of the plot have as much relevance to contemporary London as the film had to 70s Jamaica. It presents the issues and forces the audience to ask"what are we doing about it"?
A great show - high octane and really enjoyable.
Go see!
This show really packs a punch
- Daniel Lockwood, London, England
