Fela!

The cast of Fela! did an amazing job knocking down the fourth wall. Sahr Ngaujah did a great job in his portrayal of Fela Kuti and made the audience feel as if they were in “The Shrine.” The music and the dancers provided chronologically accurate representation of his life. The music is mostly composed of Afrobeat, which Fela Kuti created, by adding elements of jazz and funk to traditional Yoruba. The smooth transition from lively, dynamic scene to serious scene also facilitated the illustration of Fela’s life. This smaller off Broadway musical production offers intimacy and personalize feelings. The best part of it is the interactive part in which audiences learn how to dance- known as a pelvic thrust. Even though the scale is not as big as Broadway musicals, Fela! proves that great musicals do not need enormous stage and props to shine.