Fela! at The Olivier Theatre at The National

I have mixed feelings about Fela!, the new musical that is currently showing at the National Theatre, on the Olivier stage. This vibrant show is all passion and politics and tells the life of Fela Kuti, Nigerian musician, human rights activist and political maverick.

The show is unlike anything I’ve ever seen at the National before. It is an explosion of colour and noise, the whole theatre is adorned with pictures, lights and projections. As the audience walk in, the exuberant band is already jamming away on stage, it is like walking into another country, and has a carnival-like atmosphere. The high level of energy and spirit continue right through the three hour show, which eventually became quite exhausting to watch. I would like to have seen a little more variation of tone; it would have perhaps made the intensity a little more manageable.

The action takes place at the Shrine, in Lagos, 1978 where Fela is giving his final concert. This musical feast tries to cram in the entire span of this revolutionary’s fascinating life. His upbringing in London, and then his return to Nigeria where he strives to make a difference with his music. We see the impact of the dreadful death of his mother, which haunts him throughout the story and are also made aware of his infamous womanising. I felt the narrative to be a little muddled and the incessant dancing (as brilliant as it is) slightly takes over the story. The show is long, and by the two hour mark I started to get restless and a little bored.

The star of the show is Sahr Ngaujah who gives the performance of his life as Fela. Nagaujah comes straight from playing the role in the original Broadway production. He really is as extraordinary as the legend himself, singing and dancing across the stage, playing the trumpet and sax phenomenally and even joking with the audience with an alarming ease and charisma. During the performance he gets the audience up on to their feet to sing, dance and join in with the Clock pelvic thrusts – it was hilarious to see the National crowd attempting this move! Nagaujah is supported on stage by Melanie Marshall as his sweet voiced mother, and Paulette Ivory as the American girl who wins his heart. The rest of the company is equally energetic, and it is exciting to see the players having such a good time, even if that is running amongst the audience screaming at the top of their voices. The band is spectacular, how they played continuously for such a length of time is a marvel to me.

Fela! continues at The Olivier Theatre until 23 January 2011, book tickets here.

Notting Hill Carnival

How many of you went to Carnival this weekend? I went along on Bank Holiday Monday afternoon to enjoy the music and the spectacular parade. Even the sun made an appearance.

The Notting Hill Carnival is an annual event, which has taken place on the streets of West London since 1964. It is predominantly led by the British African-Caribbean community, particularly the ‘Trinis’ (Trinidadian and Tobagonian British population). The Carnival attracts over a million people every year making it the world’s second largest street festival, after the one held in Trinidad and Tobago.

After working in Notting Hill for five years, I love going to the Carnival every year to celebrate the end of summer and to see the transformation of the London roads. It is wonderful just to walk through the brightly coloured fragrant streets but my favourite part of Carnival is the dancing through the crowds by enthusiastic dancers in specially made extravagant costumes. We found a convenient wall to climb up and watch from, which enabled us to see and join in without being squashed by the crowds.

Definitely worth experiencing at least once.

Dirty Dancing cast change

I’ve been to see Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story on Stage twice in London’s West End. Once because my friend from university was singing in the show, and for a second time because I enjoyed my first visit so much.

The musical is based on the hit film with Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey. It captures both the love story and the impressive dancing. My only complaint is the lack of live music within the musical, it uses mostly recorded tracks. This focuses attention on the dances.

The cast of Dirty Dancing has recently changed with Hannah Vassallo as Frances ‘Baby’ Houseman, Johnny Wright as Johnny Castle and Dancing on Ice star Ray Quinn as Billy Kostecki. I often find that going to a show just after a cast change is the best time – the performance has a fresh energy that seems to fade later in a cast’s run.

Dirty Dancing has been enormously popular with London audiences. The show sold out for the first six months of its run before it even arrived on the London stage. Audiences are going back for more, with The Observer newspaper calling it “the biggest live theatre sensation of all time”, now is a good time to get your dancing fix.

Book tickets here.

Chain Restaurants in London - Black and Blue and Del'Aziz

Inside Del'Aziz

Sometimes you just want comfort food... but where to go?

On the rare occasion I feel like eating somewhere other than my beloved Pizza Express, I turn to good London chains such as Black and Blue and Del'Aziz.

On Saturday stood in front of Kensington Church Street's top burger joint, my brother and I pondered for a while why Black and Blue's facade was not designed in black and blue but instead, annoyingly, green and silver. This restaurant is a simple but classic burger chain, with six branches across London it has quickly grown in popularity. The menu is clear with a select choice of burgers and a few salads, all you need from such a place. (It irritates me when I am offered a million different dishes at a burger restaurant, if you want a good burger go somewhere that has little else on the menu.)

The ingredients are fresh and the meat high quality. The chips are, I would say about a 7 out of 10 (a high rating considering the perfect chip is almost impossible to find!) I had a delicious bacon & cheese burger and for dessert four of us shared one portion of the peach and champagne sorbet - delicious and palate-freshening after the rich meal.

Another chain I recently discovered, at Westfield is Del'Aziz which advertises itself as an Eastern Mediterranean deli and restaurant. They serve light, flavoursome food with great sharing plates. The best thing about the restaurant is the fabulous entertainment they put on every night. A resident belly dancer dances amongst diners and sometimes they have folk musicians or flamenco to get you in the Med mood.