Next year will mark the 80th anniversary of the passing of Harlem Renaissance jazz pianist and composer Thomas “Fats” Waller. So it’s understandable if today’s audiences aren’t familiar with some of his music.
Waller was a successful recording artist, but the milieu he wrote about and where he performed live was New York City’s Harlem nightclub circuit. That atmosphere is re-created elegantly onstage in the CCAE production, with luxurious scenic design by Stephen Gifford, chandelier lighting by Steven Young and costumes by Janet Pitcher. The production begins with a Waller-like pianist at the keyboard, but hidden behind the draped curtains is a bandstand with a crack six-piece jazz band.
In the Broadway original, the five actors — including Page — performed under their own first names, and in this production — despite the song and cast list in the printed program — the actors are using their first names as well. Each performer has at least one standout number.
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