Interludes

THE HANGOVER REPORT – For THE LIFE’S Encores! mounting, Billy Porter drastically alters the fiber of the musical, mostly for the better

• By drediman
• March 20, 2022
• No Comments

This weekend, I attended the Encores! revival of The Life at New York City Center. The 1997 musical features music by Cy Coleman and lyrics by Ira Gasman (the book is by Coleman, Gasman, and David Newman) and tells the gritty story of the prostitutes and pimps that once were commonplace in New York City during the 1980s. Although the show was nominated for 12 Tony Awards, it won only two – for the memorable featured performances of Chuck Cooper and Lillias White, both deserving wins. The musical hasn’t had a major New York revival until now, which makes it an ideal choice for the Encores! treatment.

The revered City Center series has enlisted the help of Kinky Boots and Pose star Billy Porter not only to direct the musical, but also to reshape it anew. In many ways, the drastically re-conceived show is not the show that opened on Broadway in the late 1990s, mostly for the better. The musical is now presented as a series flashbacks by one of the show’s pimps (Jojo), which allows for commentary and editorialization. Most of the time, this sharpens the once unwieldy book, but at times yields to unnecessary sermonizing (the “Mr. Greed” montage that now opens the second act being one of the more glaring missteps). There’s also a new pivotal second act plot twist – no spoilers here – that completely changes the fabric of the piece and it with a newfound and compelling sense of purpose.

The changes don’t end there. In a surprising move, the Encores! revival features new orchestrations, as well as altered musical and vocal arrangements. Additionally, the songs have been re-ordered (the big 11 o’clock number is a thrillingly placed “The Oldest Profession”). Happily, even with all the musical revamping (which Encores! traditionalists may balk at), Coleman’s brassy and sassy score shines. In terms of performances, standouts include Grammy-winner Ledisi’s irresistibly brazen performance as Sonja (now elevated to the show’s leading character) and Antwayn Hopper’s villainous, larger-than-life performance as a newly drawn Memphis.

RECOMMENDED

THE LIFE
Off-Broadway, Musical
New York City Center
2 hours, 30 minutes (with one intermission)
Through March 20