The Scottsboro Boys in Los Angeles

[jackhammer91406]

I saw this production last night at the Ahmanson Theater in Los Angeles. This is the final show from Kander and Ebb who created Cabaret, Chicago, Kiss of The Spider Woman, The Rink, Flora the Red Menace, Curtains, Woman of the Year and others. Fred Ebb passed away in 2004. This production, directed by Susan Stroman, shares some of the same cast as the original Broadway company.

 

The subject matter is based on true events in the 1930"s and covers the unfair imprisonment and conviction of 9 young black men who were riding in a boxcar on a train in Alabama. At the time of their arrest, two white women also in the car falsely accused the boys of gang raping them. At subsequent trials one of the woman recanted, but the boys were still re-convicted and sentenced to death. It is a gripping story, and one that wouldn't immediately come to mind as subject fare for a musical. In true Kander and Ebb style, the entire proceedings are conducted as a minstrel show (a subject in itself filled with racial stereotypes). By using this minstrel device, under the guise of entertainment and humor, the only white character (The Interlocutor) takes us along the uncomfortable path of race relations in the 1930's and allows us to be slowly drawn into the world of these boys and what they went through.

 

All of the performers are really very good. Hal Linden does a fine job of playing The Interlocutor ( and all other white male characters). Joshua Henry recreates his Tony nominated role of Heywood Patterson and he does an amazing job.

 

The show is playing at the Ahamnson Theater until June 30th and there were some good seats in the mezzanine last night so I am sure tickets are still available.

[uwsman2]

I saw the NY production and can strongly recommend this show. It is instructive and entertaining at the same time.