Musical: The Satchmo's Suite / Presented by The Vancouver East Cultural Centre / An Eastern Front Theatre Production / Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada / February 6th
The Satchmo’ Suite, a delightful musical, in which a classical musician learns a trick or two from the legendary jazz musician Louis Armstrong, opened on February 6th at the Vancouver East Cultural Center, and runs until February 16th. The musical first caught the attention of the VECC’s Executive Director Heather Redfern, when she took in the production at the Magnetic North Theatre Festival in St Johns Newfoundland, during June of 2006.
The musical an Eastern Front Theatre production stars Andrew Moodie in the role of Hubert Clements, a classical cellist, who finds himself, alone, on the road, in a hotel room, and confronting his insecurities, on the eve of assuming the first chair in the orchestra. Hubert (Moodie) is bothered by the conductor’s reference to him as Satchmo’, Louis Armstrong’s nickname. Hubert considers it to be both a racial and musical insult. As he peers into the full-length mirror in his hotel room, Hubert, now very much in Walter Mitty mode, finds himself confronting Armstrong. The program describes the setting as the “hotel room of the mind,” and I cannot improve upon that description.
The dramatic tension that exists between Jeremiah Sparks, cast in the role of Armstrong, and Andrew Moodie, is superb, evocative and believable. Sparks, captures the essence of Armstrong’s facial expressions, adopts a very good likeness of the musician’s voice, and adds humor to the dialogue. For his part, Moodie brings to the fore, Hubert’s bitterness at being a child, who was raised by a white mother and a black father, during an ugly time in American history, in the area of racial inequality and prejudice.
These are however, different times, and Hubert, remains bogged down in what was, instead of celebrating the life and family that he can now enjoy. Every time that Hubert stages another pity party, Satchmo’ (Armstrong), ups the stakes by telling Hubert what he had to endure throughout a good portion of his career, despite the fact that he was a world class trumpet player and singer. When Hubert tries to play the class distinction card, Armstrong relates a time when he had a job digging ditches, and in comical fashion relates how even down there in the ditches, class distinction and jealousy existed.
Through pantomime, Moodie and Sparks’ characters play their respective instruments, while live musicians, John Gilbert (piano), Derry Byrne (trumpet), and cellist (Colin Matthews) serve up some incredible arrangements. In particular, there is a marvelous trumpet solo by Byrne, as Armstrong recalls the time that he spent with Ole’ One Eyed Joe Oliver’s band.
The Satchmo’ Suite is a wonderfully directed, acted and produced musical that features some splendid music, while it takes you on a journey of self discovery, and perhaps prompts us to confront our denied foibles and fears, whatever they may be. Written by Hans Boggild and Doug Innis, directed by Boggild, with musical direction from John Gilbert, The Satchmo’ Suite has captured the imaginations and hearts of theatergoers and music fans across Canada.
Redfern notes, “The audience response has been overwhelmingly positive. Tickets are selling like crazy. I have received several emails from patrons who loved it (the musical), and the audience, whether young or old, seem to get something out of it.”
Reviewed February 6th, 2008
Reviewed by Joe Montague
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Riveting Riffs wishes to thank the Vancouver East Cultural Centre for making it possible for us to review The Satchmo' Suite
