It was the most offensive thing I’ve ever heard at a musical, and we were barely into Act I when it was uttered — not just once, but three times. The audible sounds of disapproval that rippled through Music Hall at Fair Park affirmed that I wasn’t alone in my reaction.
I didn’t get up to leave, nor did anyone else. The despicable word was spoken for dramatic effect — to remind the audience that the scene before us was set in the Jim Crow South, pre-Civil Rights Movement.
“Memphis,” which won the 2010 Tony for Best Musical and will be at Fair Park through Sunday, is at times uproariously fun and at times wrenchingly heartbreaking. It’s the story of a socially inept yet musically adept white DJ, Huey Calhoun, who falls in love with an extremely talented black singer, Felicia. The inevitable racial issues are the crux of the story, and the plot line thankfully resists the urge to tie everything up with a neat little bow, instead dealing honestly with the disparities of the day.
During a few of the songs, I found myself closing my eyes to let the music wash over me — the gospel choir singing “Make Me Stronger,” Felicia Boswell’s rendition of “Colored Woman,” and especially “Say a Prayer” at the end of Act I.
Speaking of, watch out for the show stealers — Rhett George, who doesn’t speak a word until he begins singing “Say a Prayer,” lets loose in a powerful way. Julie Johnson as Calhoun’s mama seems like a minor character at first, but by the time she sings “Change Don’t Come Easy,” she’s a force to be reckoned with.
If you’ve watched the film of the Broadway musical on Netflix, don’t let that deter you. I had a hard time watching it on my TV, but was captivated by the Music Hall performance. This is a musical you need to see live.
