“Hail,Hail Chuck: A Tribute To Chuck Berry”

[rating=3]As many readers know, I adore the work of Black Ensemble Theater, and what they bring to our cultural scene in Chicago. There are plays are filled with music. Music tat many of my contemporaries grew up listening to and the talent they find is amazing (to say the least).Of course, Jackie Taylor, the Artistic Director/founder of this theater ( in reality, far more than a theater- a cultural center) makes sure that the talent is superb and that the books are not just a way of melding the musical works, but that the audience learns about the particular subject of the story.

“Hail, Hail Chuck: A Tribute To Chuck Berry” is the story of Chuck Berry, a man who revolutionized the music industry during a period of “overt racism”! This was during a period where the “Jim Crowe Laws” got involved and the African-American performers were limited in a way that the youth of today needs to understand. There were times that an African -American performer could not dine in the club that they performed in. They could not drink from the same water fountain or even use the same bathrooms. Despite the White patrons paying top dollar to watch them perform, they performers were not allowed to even go to the clubs except on “Negro night”.

Chuck Berry did not have an easy life. The son of a church Deacon, his father only wanted him to learn and perform “church music”, but his love was something called “Rock& Roll” and doing what was called a “Black man performing Hillbilly Music” was where people first took notice of both the man and the sound. What Black Ensemble brings to their stage on this tribute, written by L. Maceo Ferris ( a senior member of the Black Ensemble Theater Playwrights Initiative) is one of their typical history lessons with music. While it is not a typical “Musical Theater” production, it is truly a musical that pays homage to the man and his history.

While I recommend the play as a whole, the talent assembled to bring this play to life is [rating=5]. Chuck Berry is portrayed by two actors. Older Chuck Berry is played by Lyle Miller ( who has been missing from their stage of late) and still has it! Welcome back Lyle! Younger Chuck is portrayed by Vincent Jordan, who came into the role last week and was unbelievable. As this production continues, I see him getting even better ( hard to fathom getting better that what he brought to the production, but I think he has it deep within him). These are two great performers doing one heck of a job!

The rest of the cast, some old and some new-comers are all brilliant and continue to show the talent that this theater company continues to bring to Chicago. There are two women in this production. The always reliable Kylah Williams as Themetta Berry, Chuck’s wife) and Cynthia Carter as the rest of the female characters- dynamite!

The rest of the cast:Kelvin Davis and Rueben D. Echoles as Johnny Johnson ( old and young), Lemond Hayes, John Wesley Hughs, Brandon Lavell, Dwight Neal ( Muddy Waters and Fats Domino), Trequon Tate ( Bo Diddly), Christopher Taylor, David Stobbe and Jeff Wright (as Leonard Chess and Keith Richards). This cast, while small in numbers, is huge in talent and by the time they get to the finale, the audience has fallen under their spell. Director Daryl D. Brooks, uses the stage (set designed by Bekki Lambrecht) to its best advantage. One of the beautiful parts of this company is that the sets and other technical aspects play second fiddle to the talent and the music. After all, what BET promises to its audiences is great music and a wonderful historical story- that is what they always deliver!

The rest of the tech: Alexia Rutherford (costumes), Denise Karczewski ( lighting), David Samba (sound) and Aaron Quick (video). The music is provided by Robert Reddrick (drums and conductor), Adam Sherrod (keyboard), Gary Baker (guitar), Mark Miller (bass) and Oscar Brown playing Chuck’s guitar- a powerhouse). The story takes us from the 40’s thru the death of Chuck Berry last year and we hear music such as: “Roll Over Beethoven”, “Thirty Days”, “St. Louis Blues ( he was from St. Louis), “I Got My Mojo Working” (a Muddy Waters hit), “Maybellene”, “Johnny B. Goode”, “Nadine”, “Reelin’ and Rockin’ “, “Rock and Roll Music” and “School Day”. There are more, but these alone are well worth the price of a ticket!

“Hail,Hail Chuck: A Tribute To Chuck Berry” will continue at The  Black Ensemble Cultural Center, located at 4450 N. Clark Street ( at Sunnyside) in Chicago thru April 1 with performances as follows:

Thursdays  7:30 p.m.

Fridays  8 p.m.

Saturdays  3 and 8 p.m.

Sundays  3 p.m.

Running time: 2 hours and 15 minutes including a 15 minute intermission.

Tickets range from  $55- $65  (10% discount seniors and students) and can be purchased at the box office, by calling 773-769-4451 or online at www.blackensemble.org

The theater has enclosed valet parking available. There is street parking available, metered and not ( meters do not operate on Sundays).

To see what others are saying, visit www.theatreinchicago.com, go to Review Round-Up and click at “Hail, Hail Chuck: A Tribute To Chuck Berry”!