The Life is a musical that ran originally off and on Broadway in the 1990s. With lyrics by Ira Gasman and music by Cy Coleman it explores a dark and depraved world of pimps and prostitutes, dealers and users around Times Square, New York in the 1980s.
Jojo (John Addison) is an opportunistic hustler who will sink to any low to make it big. Fleetwood (David Albury), a Vietnam veteran will a deluded ambition of making loads of money, is a shady character who pimps his own girlfriend, Queen (T’Shan Williams). Queen befriends ageing hooker Sonja (Sharon D Clarke), whilst out on the streets. Add into the mix Lacy (Jo Servi) a crooked bar owner, Mary (Joanna Woodward) a naive youngster straight off the bus from Minnesota and sadistic gangster Memphis (Cornell S John) and we’re set for a tale of debauchery, hope and ultimately death.
The show is very nicely housed in Southwark Playhouse’s ‘Large’ auditorium with the cast using every available space to bring energy to the show. The choreography, the colourful costumes, the set, the big hair are all enjoyable to watch but the show just doesn’t set you alive with passion.
Sharon D Clarke has an amazing voice (and much of the hype around the show related to her casting), but it’s not used enough. T’Shan Williams has an equally great voice as does David Albury, in fact the whole cast are vocally superb.
Some of the songs are lively and fun others are moving . But whilst they are enjoyable in the moment, they are sadly instantly forgettable. The first act starts well and the scene is set, but the plot then meanders and goes on for quite a long time. A very long time! The second act is more concise and by far the more enjoyable of the two; the story is much easier to follow and definitely more engaging.
The cast did well but at the end of the day, The Life felt a little dated and was far too long (not helped by a late start and a technical problem delaying the start of the second act).
Production photography by Conrad Blakemore
The Life is at The Southwark Playhouse until 29th April.
