The Salon
After the resounding success of The Time Machine - A Tribute To The 80's, written and directed by Darryl Brooks, I was eagerly anticipating another outstanding production at Black Ensemble Theatre. The Salon is a delightful musical comedy revolving around legacy, love, and hair themes, with an incredible soundtrack of songs featuring music from icons like James Brown and Beyoncé. With a mix of talented newcomers and familiar faces, including veteran BET members Cynthia Carter and Vincent Jordan, and directed by Michelle Renee Bester, it revolves around Bernadette's Salon, a cherished part of the Chicago community since it first opened its doors in 1974. After selling her salon to a well-known beauty studio owner, who promises to make changes, Marie, the new owner, brings in her unique style, updating the outdated look to match her other successful studios. During a meeting with the stylists, she introduced new rules and guidelines, changing the style of music and atmosphere. Erin, a highly skilled stylist, has also joined the team, causing tension with Johnny, a traditional barber who disapproves of his lifestyle. But when Big Bertha, the commercial water heater, breaks down and closes the salon, the staff unites to save it by winning a hair fashion show. This Salon could be likened to a spin-off of the Beauty Shop, reminiscent of Queen Latifah's 2005 movie. It follows a similar storyline of a woman opening a salon and dealing with financial challenges that put the business at risk of closure. One of Chicago's best directors, Daryl Brooks, serves as Producing Managing Director and has helped BET create heartwarming and captivating musical experiences that relate to its audience. BET is known for renowned enchanting and enjoyable performances, so I was hoping for another outstanding afternoon. The set design of the production featured classic salon swivel chairs, elegant mirrors, and an array of high-end beauty products. The wallpaper showcased in the play matches the design of one of Sheena Marie's hair salons.
The musical features some amazing songs from D'Angelo, Nina Simone, Michael Jackson, Regina Belle, Aretha Franklin, Montell Jordan, James Brown, and Beyoncé. Still, this musical was like hearing someone singing your favorite song off-key. The integration of songs, acting, and dialogue in One Act fails to establish a connection with the narrative — and Act Two abruptly ended despite showing promise at the beginning and appearing to head in the right direction. The Salon never achieved a cohesive flow, and despite some interesting storylines that could have been turned into compelling narratives, the musical failed to incorporate them coherently. As a result, the entire production came across as losing its sense of direction and badly written. The performance was carried by a talented fourteen-member cast who did everything possible to rescue the play. Cynthia Carter as Mama T, Vincent Jordan (Johnny), Makenzy Jenkins (Erin), and Dennis Dent as Hustleman provided solid performances, and the singing by the ladies were Raeven Carroll, De'Jah Jervai, Shantina Lowe, Rose Marie Simmons, and Kendra Turner was fabulous. Director Bester, who mentions that black hair, excellence, and legacy go underappreciated, wrote the play around Chicago Celebrity Glam Headquarters beauty studio owner Sheena Marie, Michelle Bester's sister. Bester was mysteriously absent from the opening yesterday, and her name wasn't mentioned at the end of the play. The show runs until July 28, but it desperately needs a major overhaul to have any hope of continuing. Darryl Brooks is the ideal candidate to rescue the production, but it will even test his skills.
⭐⭐
Black Ensemble Theater
The Salon: A Musical Comedy About Legacy, Love, and Hair
Written and Directed By Michelle Renee Bester
Now to July 28, 2024
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