Ticket was gifted in return for an honest review
After a delayed start due to latecomers (aaarrgggghhhh!) we are presented with a set that looks real; iron sheets, colour washed walls, a tired looking street...but still somehow colourful and smart with the recognisable yellow, green and red layers, setting the scene of a country full of colour just aching to explode. The set and the music, pulls you into the 1970s with ease. Add to this vibrancy of the costumes, and you are transported to a time where music was changing forever. Be it punk, heavier rock music and of course, in this case, reggae. The set changes are crisp and very effective, allowing the show to constantly flow like the rhythm in the sound.
As always, it's a joy to go to the theatre. The excitement of the arts brought to life right in front of you. 'The Harder They Come' was a sold-out night filled with anticipation...and what a joy it was to be truly gifted with a great production.
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| Photo by Danny Kaan |
Before the show we are gifted with music, presented by DJ Lemon Soul. Reggae filled trumpets with its unmistakable beats, giving us the foundation of where this musical is set.
So, what happens? Ivan, an aspiring singer who arrives in Kingston, Jamaica, is determined to make it as a music superstar. He secures a record deal with a manipulative music mogul, and learns that this game doesn't play fair.
As his fame rises, he finds himself topping the charts as well as the most-wanted list of criminals. A Jamaican Robin Hood-type-hero. This would make a great film...oh wait! It did!
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| Photo by Danny Kaan |
'The Harder They Come' directed by Matthew Xia is smart. He knows how to pull everything together for maximum effect, eeking the comedy where it can be found, knowing when to pull the audience into the subplot and then making the room move to the groove of the infamous reggae sound. At times, I did wonder if there was much comedy? Especially in the darker moments. Perhaps. He uses his ensemble to the fullest effect when required, and then is brave enough to strip the stage back to nothing. The duet 'Rebel In Me' was a highlight moment, using distance to show the void between the lovers and then bringing them together. He manages to extract all of the emotion needed for songs like 'Many Rivers To Cross'. In his program notes he mentions his connection with Stratford East and you can feel his love for that also running through this production.
The choreography is exceptional. Shelley Maxwell brings the whole show alive through the her creativeness in body movements and feeling.
The band were faultless. An incredibly brilliant job by the MD and the musicians.
The cast are expertly lead by Natey Jones who plays Ivan. His vocal range and gruffness reminded me of the late, great Jimmy Ruffin, and his presence was mesmerising. You want to see him on that stage. Vulnerability, charm, charisma...a wonderful performer.
Elsa is played by Madeline Charlemagne, who again exudes the same charisma but also knowing in her mannerisms. The clarity and distinction in her voice was my personal favourite. There was a technical fault with her microphone in act two, but her incredible projection meant she could still be heard, and nothing was lost by way of emotion and/or integrity due to this.
Jason Pennycooke as Preacher and Danny Bailey as Jose we're just a few of the truly great support cast.
My small gripe with the cast is that some weren't as strong as they needed to be to deliver the message, especially when the leads and key ensemble are so good. I didn't buy Thomas Vernal's Mr Hilton for example, he needed to be far more threatening.
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| Photo by Danny Kaan |
This is not a perfect show. As mentioned, a couple of select bits with a few actors needed refining. Act One's running time was far too long. It could've easily lost fifteen minutes with no detriment to the narrative, to keep the pace going.
Act Two we meet a newsreader through a projection, which sadly looked cheap. Everything else had been presented so well up until this point. What a shame. As also mentioned, where the comedy is driven so high in the first act, when the story becomes darker in act two, it doesn't, and we loose any chance of a gut wrenching end. Perhaps not what the director wanted here?
Otherwise, 'The Harder They Come' is an exquisite show, and in the main, well put together with great direction, music, choreography and cast.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Harder They Come runs at Stratford East until Saturday 25th October 2025. Tickets are available from https://www.stratfordeast.com/whats-on/all-shows/the-harder-they-come
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