PicksInSix Review: JAJA'S AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING - Chicago Shakespeare Theater

Hilarity, Heartbreak Weaved Together at ‘Jaja’s’
PicksInSix Review | Ed Tracy

Jocelyn Bioh’s vibrant “Jaja’s African Hair Braiding” now playing at Chicago Shakespeare Theater unfolds in a series of fast-paced scenes over a single day in a Harlem salon. The year is 2019, but it could be last year, last month or even this week, considering the looming era of uncertainty. It’s here that during the comings and goings of clients we learn about the promise of immigrant life in America, sisterhood and the struggle for social and economic independence. The show also delivers high-spirited comedy that’s baked into the richly defined characters who create their art one lovely strand of hair at a time.

The salon itself has an ecosystem all its own. Jaja (Victoire Charles), the owner of the salon, is getting married and her daughter Marie (Jordan Rice), the high school valedictorian who is currently managing the salon, has her hands full with a trio of seasoned braiders— Bea (Awa Sal Secka), Ndidi (Aisha Sougou) and Aminata (Tiffany Renee Johnson)—who hold back nothing with each other. A fourth braider, Miriam (Bisserat Tseggai) has a powerful immigrant story that plays out in a conversation with one customer over the course of the play.

Chief among these spirited and feisty entrepreneurs is Bea who was there at the beginning with Jaja (the shop was Bea’s idea, after all) and Ndidi who Bea claims has been stealing her clients and her livelihood. Bea also irritates Aminata, whose marriage is on the rocks, but Aminata gives as good as she gets. There is general agreement that Jaja, who has built the business from the ground up and brought along each of them in one way or another, could be making a mistake, despite the celebratory toast they share when Jaja stops by. How this all plays out, and how the women support each other, is at the heart of the story.

The ensemble is rounded out by the exceptional talent of Melanie Brezill and Leovina Charles who cover a fascinating array of salon clients and Yao Dogie who plays the neighborhood merchants and Aminata’s husband, James.  

Director Whitney White’s ensemble is brilliantly supported by a Tony-nominated artistic and technical team that includes Nikiya Mathis, who received a well-deserved special Tony Award for Hair and Wig Design, and Dede Ayite who received the Tony Award for Best Costume Design. Among the four additional nominations—including White for direction and Bioh for Best Play—are David Zinn’s expertly detailed set design and original music and sound by Justin Ellington and Stefania Bulbarella.

Bioh’s uproarious comic banter leads to a stellar, finely-crafted, gut-punch of reality in “Jaja’s African Hair Braiding” that offers a powerfully moving statement on the immigrant experience. The show, a coproduction with Arena Stage, Berkley Repertory Theatre and La Jolla Playhouse, is playing in a limited run at The Yard through February 2nd and tickets are already in high demand.

PHOTO|T. Charles Erickson

Chicago Shakespeare Theater
presents
JAJA’s AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING
The Yard
Navy Pier
through February 2, 2025

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PicksInSix Review: The Lord of the Rings-A Musical Tale - Chicago Shakespeare Theater

“We Hobbits Like A Good Tale!”
PicksInSix® Review | Ed Tracy

Wizards, Hobbits and Elves have taken up residency in a Middle-earth all their own at Chicago Shakespeare Theater with the U.S. Premiere of the adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s masterpiece “The Lord of the Rings-A Musical Tale” that opened Friday in The Yard, CSF’s state-of-the-art 700-seat venue. The show, directed by Paul Hart, boasts awe-inspiring special effects, whimsical puppetry and a superb, multi-talented Chicago cast to tell the story of Bilbo Baggins (Rick Hall), Gandolf (Tom Amandes), Frodo (Spencer Davis Milford), Samwise (Michael Kurowski), and the rest of Fellowship of the Ring who save mankind from destruction.

With book and lyrics by Shaun McKenna and Matthew Warchus and music by A. R. Rahman, Värttinä and Christopher Nightgale, “The Lord of the Rings” incorporates actors as singer/musicians in what is largely a play with music versus a traditional musical. Characters move throughout The Yard’s massive space, in, out and above the audience with eye-popping surprises along the way, not the least of which is the impressive entrance and commanding performance of Tony Bozzuto as Gollum, who is everywhere all at once.

The dense story of the journey to Mordor by Frodo and Sam to destroy the ring in the foundry where it was forged has been streamlined in such a way that those not familiar with the story can follow the evolving action even if many of the characters come and go in the blink of an eye. There is more than enough here for loyalists as well although the overall pace would be improved by reducing the 2 hour and 45 minute run time, not including the 15 minute intermission.

There is remarkable, and often startling, puppetry early on—and one additional confrontation that took everyone by surprise—which when combined with the live action sequences elevate the mystical nature of the piece. Those familiar with Peter Jackson’s film trilogy will not be disappointed, but may do well to manage their expectations as this show is more about the characters and story.

Chicago audiences are fortunate to have the premiere here at Shakes through September 1. Later this fall, the production travels to the 2,379-seat Civic Theatre in Auckland, New Zealand, the locale that Jackson chose for Hobbiton, the mythical shire that today is an international tourist destination for Tolkien enthusiasts.  At three times the size of The Yard with an expansive proscenium and lift system, the Civic, built in 1929 is an atmospheric theatre—one of only seven in the world—with a unique skyscape of stars and clouds which will surely allow audiences an enhanced experience for the show.

So it was natural for me to feel that in its present form, “The Lord of the Rings-A Musical Tale” still has some room to coalesce for its next date with destiny. Staging Tolkien’s epic fantasy is a high order for the stellar cast of Chicago-based talent who are leading the way and more than up for the task. An adventure of a lifetime for sure.

PHOTO|Liz Lauren

Chicago Shakespeare Theater
presents
The Lord of the Rings - A Musical Tale
through September 1

The Yard
Navy Pier

WEBSITE

TICKETS

For more reviews, visit: Theatre In Chicago

ARCHIVE

PicksInSix® is a registered trademark of Roxbury Road Creative, LLC