Musical: Cookin' At The Cookery / Presented by Arts Club Theatre Company / Surrey Arts Centre / Surrey, British Columbia, Canada / October 12th
It was during an
interview with singer
Maria Muldaur earlier this year that she drew to my
attention the importance of Alberta Hunter in the history and development of
blues music in America. Like Hunter’s contemporaries, Memphis Minnie,
Josephine Baker and Bessie Smith, she honed her craft early in the 20th
century, at a time when racial
discrimination
was rampant, and African Americans were denied an equal seat and say in
American society. Hunter more than perhaps any other African American singer
paved the way for those who followed her in every genre of music.
It is with this understanding of the importance of Alberta Hunter, her role in shaping the role of the African American female vocalist, and her willingness to give back so much to her country that writer/director/choreographer Marion J. Caffey, created Cookin’ At The Cookery, aptly billed as a sizzling musical revue. The musical which has played thirty American theatres, as well as ten more in Canada, was staged by the Arts Club Theatre Company, at the Surrey Arts Centre, in British Columbia, Canada, on October 12th.
At the end of the two hour presentation Jackie Richardson who portrays Alberta Hunter, and Janice Lorraine, who portrays the young Alberta Hunter as well as several other cameo roles, received a warm and rousing standing ovation from the audience. In all my years of theatregoing, this was probably the best-deserved and sincere standing ovation for two actors, who literally left all they had on the stage. In fact, the woman sitting next to me said to her male companion, ‘We should have paid more for the tickets.’ When was the last time you heard someone say that?
As I indicated, with only two actors, Lorraine was cast in the role of several characters, not an easy task to pull off. Richardson’s role demanded that she make the transition to different time periods in Alberta Hunter’s life. The musical is so well scripted, and the acting of such a high calibre, that segues were seamless, and only noticeable because of the presence of a new character.
The director, the actors and the musical itself have been the recipient of numerous awards and accolades including, being named The New York Times Critics’ Choice as Best Musical of 2003, a Dora Award (Richardson), and Lorraine received the Beverly Hills / Hollywood NAACP Theater Award for Best Lead Performance in a Musical.
Both actors and Caffey are veterans of high profile stage productions. Richardson’s credits include, stage, television and theatre, having received Canada’s highest music award, a Juno, and Canada’s highest television award, a Gemini. The Toronto Blues Society bestowed upon her a Lifetime Achievement Award. Janice Lorraine, in addition to her many awards and nominations, has appeared in The Bernadette Peters Special at Radio City Music Hall, in the national tour for Ragtime, the national tour for Dreamgirls, several national and international tours for Ain’t Misbehavin. She has shared the stage with such luminaries as Al Jarreau, Jennifer Holliday and Gregory Hines.
Reviewed by Joe Montague
Reviewed October 12th, 2007
