REVIEW: One Man's Story - Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool.

One Man's Story is a musical theatre production, (written, produced and part choreographed by Carolyn Edwards) telling the life story of ‘Bongo’ Eddie Folk (Phil Kaila), the percussionist of international 80s and 90s chart-topping American band 'Kid Creole And The Coconuts' for over 30 years. Bongo, had made his home in Liverpool for over a decade before finding love with Carolyn (Carolyn Edwards).

Two years in the making of this premiere raising funds, the performance celebrates the 10^th anniversary of Genie In The Gutter charity which supports people with issues including homelessness and mental health, helping them to recover from addiction. Coming from a poor background in a racially segregated Brooklyn, New York, Eddie became a patron.

The story is told with love at its heart from the point of view of Carolyn Edwards, founder and director of Genie In The Gutter. Edwards’ love affair with Eddie Folk was cut short when he returned to his native USA but became ill and subsequently died in 2016. Shortly afterwards the charity lost 90% of its funding leaving Carolyn devastated with grief and loss. Carolyn however believes that Eddie reaches from beyond the grave to guide her to this creative project with the ultimate message that ‘life truly is a wonderful thing’.

The show opens with a percussion band (on stage throughout) in one corner and a giant projection screen centre stage. Music co-composed and directed by Matt Shaw and Kid Creole Band’s Mark Anthony Jones is vibrant accompanying a high energy contemporary dance routine performed to rhythmic percussion. It felt like a 70s disco party with a psychedelic giant screen background that segued into a Brazilian carnival complete with lavish Samba costumes and glorious feather headpieces. The choreography lead by Gillian Orrett has been credited as collaborative with the performers and the dedication of the talented dancers shone throughout the production. It is hard to believe that this is Olivia Jones' first professional performance. The funk, disco and Latin dance numbers highlit the show as the ensemble cast performed the story of Eddie’s rise from a shoe-shine boy to playing with world touring band Kid Creole And The Coconuts. 

The audience loved it with ample opportunity to sing and clap along. With so much ground to cover Edwards cleverly introduces Narrator (Simon Lennon) who holds the show together with his beautifully lyrical voice. The narration, written in rhyme undulates as Lennon commands the stage without ever intruding on the performance. Director (Jen Heyes) utilises the huge Philharmonic stage and projection screen to the full interspersing clean original background film footage of ‘Bongo’ Eddie’s rise to fame with social historical references. Footage of Maya Angelou reciting her poem ‘Still I Rise’ was a particularly powerful and moving moment. The production does not shy away from Eddie’s womanising past and dancer Talisha Thomas-Lindsay also plays Barbara (with whom he had two daughters in New York) beautifully as the production covers the earlier years leading up to his drink, drug-fuelled womanising height of fame. Edwards emphasises Eddie’s humour and charisma and Phil Kaila brings a believable presence of Eddie to the stage. At the end of act one it is 1988 and Eddie has fathered a son to Liverpool girl Doreen. They are not together but Eddie loves his son and stays in Liverpool while continuing to tour with Kid Creole. The first half closes a little early after forty-five minutes as a guest performance by Kid Creole And The Coconuts was cancelled last minute. Whilst this would have been fun the production did not suffer unduly from it.

Act two opened in contrast much slower, concentrating on Carolyn’s love story and her pain after Eddie’s death all told and narrated in rhyming prose. This however was evidence of the creator being too close to the project and although Edward’s tango with Eddie showcased her talent as a dancer, her self-portrayal and grief was at times uncomfortable to watch. Original film footage and a sparkling glitter ball helped to highlight the highs and lows of fame and fortune. Narrator (Lennon) again held the performance together with support from the ensemble and fabulous musicians as they played Frankie Goes to Hollywood’s The Power of Love. The show ended on a thorough high with the ensemble swelled by the addition of a chorus of ‘Genie’ service users earning a standing ovation and full audience participation in the singing and dancing musical finale.

One Man's Story is a fundraising collaborative work between ConYoBongo and Genie In The Gutter. Set up in memory of Bongo Eddie and blending multiple artistic genres, such as contemporary dance, yoga and bongo drums, ConYoBongo also blends artists from varying artistic/social backgrounds and has aims of producing high calibre professional musical theatre shows. ConYoBongo aspires to combine the real with the virtual and grass roots, emerging and professional high-profile artists to co-create innovative live integrated theatre and memorable audience experiences that are fully inclusive and accessible for all.

Reviewer - Barbara Sherlock
on - 7/9/18