TIGER BAY: THE MUSICAL | STAGE REVIEW
****
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff, Wed 15 Nov
Many who came to the world premiere of Tiger Bay: The Musical were probably born after most of the docks and the titular area were demolished and “cleaned up,” in an attempt to show to the world a new face after gentrification. Some may not have known Tiger Bay even existed. Does this new show give people an idea of what this once-teeming port –with the first and biggest multi-ethnic community in Wales – was? And does it succeed as a musical? Well, it did get a rapturous standing ovation at the finish.
This production is Wales Millennium Centre’s largest (with over 40 cast members plus a live orchestra) and most ambitious yet, with a score by composer Daf James and lyrics adapted from the book by South African author Michael Williams. Tiger Bay: The Musical tells the story of those who lived in the area back when King Coal ruled Cardiff, both rich and poor. It tells of an aristocrat’s anguish over the loss of his decidedly non-royal lass and the search for their illegitimate son amidst a backdrop of unionization and strikes, women’s suffrage, racism, child labour, and a romance that crosses lines of class, income and colour.
Of the cast everyone is absolutely tremendous. Two of the best musical theatre actors/singers working today – tenors John Owen-Jones (as The Third Marquess of Bute, John Stuart) and Noel Sullivan (as sinister harbourmaster Seamus O’Rourke) – command the stage. The Third Marquess of Bute was a fascinating historical figure; mysticism and electricity were just some of his many interests. The fictionalization of real figures can be a bore, and the theme of long-lost relatives, especially progeny, has been done to death, but Owen-Jones gives a moving performance as the Marquess. After the first of his solos, the emotional Mary, one wishes he had more time onstage.
Sullivan has spoken of wanting to stretch himself and take more dramatic roles, and he has does so here, nailing his portrayal of the slimy and sadistic harbourmaster – not only conning his future wife with a bit on the side but the Marquess himself, deceiving everyone while trying to conceal his past life. Cardiff-born Sullivan’s skills mature and get richer with each new show.
There are also two break-out stars: Dom Hartley-Harris (Themba) and Vikki Bebb as O’Rourke’s intended, a shop girl with a social conscience. The duo dazzle on the low-key but heartstring-pulling Taste of Home. Hartley-Harris, with his deep bass and proud presence, lets you see into the soul of the grief-stricken African widower, now a donkeyman, pushing heavy carts of coal in his adopted homeland in This Is The Man.
On this night, 11-year-old Ruby Llewelyn from Llantrisant (Louise Harvey also shares the part) stole the limelight from the adults as the scrappy and spunky street urchin Ianto, a waterboy who attaches himself to Themba and helps make his work a little easier. She surely held her own on the delightful duet with Owen-Jones, Little Things. The waterboys (and girls), ranging in age from 9 to14, give the show much energy and verve, singing and dancing like seasoned troupers.
Of the standout tracks, Shadowland is compelling and beautiful: it’s going to be the remembered tune from Tiger Bay: The Musical, whilst Your Day Is Here is also a cut above. Harbourmaster of Your Heart – though it sounds like it should be the title of a Bonnie Tyler song – mixes African influences with hymns, and Tiger Bay would have benefited from a more global outlook to the music to reflect what made this community so unique.
The main set – a gigantic hull of a ship looming over everyone – conveys the sense of greyness, coldness and hardness of life on the docks. The bow doubles as a room in Cardiff Castle and more, an interesting touch from the school of An Inspector Calls set design, but it doesn’t produce a real feel for the area as a whole, ultimately coming across as too generic.
Unfortunately, this tiger needs to have its tail shortened. A few songs need to be thrown overboard, the plight of the ragamuffin waterboys isn’t as harrowing as it could be, and the climactic almost-ending seems a clichéd and too-obvious way to grab the audience. In addition, the narrative and many songs are very much Les Mis-meets-Oliver! Perhaps some-re-writing is in order. With that said, the cast is amazing, and it is an overall enjoyable experience. Original, new, entertaining and thought-provoking works should be lauded and encouraged, and this history is worth telling. Here’s hoping Tiger Bay: The Musical can dock in more ports.
words Rhonda Lee Reali
photo Nardus Engelbrecht
Runs until Sat 25 Nov. Tickets: £7-£39. Info: 029 2063 6464 / wmc.org.uk