After a receiving five-star, critical acclaim for its seasons at the Hampstead Theatre and Chichester Festival Theatre, where tickets sold out, Tony Kushner’s Olivier Award-winning musical Caroline, or Change transfers to the West End’s Playhouse Theatre. Playing for a strictly limited run, the production sees theatre legend Sharon D. Clarke reprise her lauded role as Caroline Thibodeaux.
Caroline, or Change takes place in Louisiana 1963, when Kennedy is President and the country is experiencing significant social upheaval, and follows lowly-paid maid Caroline as she works in the basement of the Gellman household. Paid a mere $30 a week, she struggles to make ends meet.
With the Gellman’s saying she can’t be given a raise, Caroline is permitted to can keep any money she finds in their pockets when she does the laundry. This arrangement works well for a while, but when the 8-year old Noah leaves $20 in his trouser pocket, this triggers a moral crisis of monumental proportions.
Olivier Award-winning actress Sharon D. Clarke reprises the titular role, with extensive theatre credits including Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, We Will Rock You, Eugenius and Hairspray. Alongside her are Alastair Brookshaw, Naana Agyei-Ampadu, Me’sha Bryan, Dujonna Gift-Simms, Keisha Amponsa Banson, Angela Caesar, Teddy Kempner, Sue Kelvin, Abiona Omonua, Ako Mitchell, Tanisha Spring, Vincent Pirillo and Lauren Ward with Cassiopeia Berkeley-Agyepong, Timothy Quinlan, Zalika Henry, Teddy Wills and Laura Medforth. Nine young actors will play the roles of Joe, Noah and Jackie. Aaron Gelkoff, Isaac Forward and Jack Meredith share the role of Noah. Likewise the role of Joe is alternated by Josiah Choto, Raphael Higgins-Hume and David Dube. Kenya Sandy, Mark Mwangi and Jeremiah Waysome alternate the role of Jackie.
The musical features a book and lyrics by Tony Kushner, the American playwright best-known for Angels in America, which recently received revivals at the National Theatre and on Broadway. Tony Award-winning composer Jeanine Tesori (Fun Home, Shrek the Musical) provides the score, which pools together blues, classical, soul and traditional Jewish references.
Caroline, or Change is directed by Michael Longhurst (Amadeus, Constellations, Belleville), with choreography by Ann Yee, design by Fly Davis, lighting design by Jack Knowles and sound design by Paul Arditti, with musical direction by Nigel Lilley.
With themes that are guaranteed to resonate today, the pertinent, heralded musical plays at London’s Playhouse Theatre for a limited season. Caroline, or Change tickets are available for performances from 20 November 2018, with a press night on 28 November 2018.
I hope this show comes back. The energy was electric, the story was humorous and their voices were unparalleled. Great use of the staging and the way they brought the props to life was so clever.