Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Tickets and more information: https://southwarkplayhouse.co.uk/show/aint-misbehavin/
Booking until: 1st June 2019
Production Photos by: Pamela Raith
Run time: 2hrs

A piece of musical theatre that was originally conceived by Richard Maltby Jr, Ain’t Misbehavin takes the music of the iconic jazz musician/entertainer Fats Waller and uses his music to form an explosive and vibrant song cycle. The show goes from one song to another without any dialogue in-between, this format combined with the incredible creative team assembled, I would argue this piece is more of a dramatised cabaret. And it’s a sublime one, at that.

The piece is performed by five of the most excellent performers that we have in London. Adrian Hansel and Wayne Robinson have such silky smooth voices. Carly Mercedes Dyer is fun & playful with an incredible belting voice. Landi Oshinowo’s voice is beautifully soulful and Renee Lamb’s vocals are just as powerful as her brilliantly sharp eyebrow raises. All of the performers have wonderful chemistry and play off each other really well which makes the piece all the more enjoyable.

This production also marks the directorial of actor Tyrone Huntley who does a superb job and I really liked the way the musical moments were directed. Each song felt like it was telling it’s own story in a way. The choreography is by Oti Mabuse, who is making her theatrical choreography debut on the production. If you know the level of her choreography from her time on Strictly Come Dancing, then you already know how incredible it is here. And yet I was still blown away by the level of skill and the use of space in the performance.

The set and costume design by takis is also outstanding and emphasises how much of a glittering, sparkly musical this is. It is bucket loads of fun. I genuinely feel like every single aspect of this fits together like a completed puzzle. It was all meant to come together like this. This is another knock out production from Paul Taylor-Mills. If you’re looking for an absolutely fun time, then head to the Southwark Playhouse for Ain’t Misbehavin.

Until next time,