Don’t Bother Me,
I Can’t Cope
New York City Center
Encores! Off-Center
July 26, 2018
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| Photo courtesy of New York City Center Encores! Off-Center |
The
New York City Center Encores! Off-Center production of Don’t Bother Me, I Can’t Cope brings new life to Micki Grant’s
music and lyrics. Savion Glover’s
staging and direction are concise and engaging.
His choreography merges the precision and energy of the time period with
his unique style and rhythm. His vision
for the show is skillfully achieved by the strong singing voices and powerful
stage presence of a vibrant ensemble cast.
Originally
on Broadway in 1972, Don’t Bother Me I
Can’t Cope was conceived by Vinnette Carroll. The story is told entirely through Micki
Grant’s music, which includes a range of compositions from blues and jazz to
gospel and Reggae. From the New York City
Center Encores! Off-Center program: “Don’t Bother Me has always been powered
by the energy of the cast and music, along with its story being built on the
African American experience. Even more,
Vinnette Carroll and Micki Grant’s presence on Broadway with this show came on
the heels of Lorraine Hansberry, the first African American woman to present
work on Broadway.” There are strong and
emotionally driven performances by Rheaume Crenshaw, Dayna Dantzler, Aisha de
Haas, James T. Lane, and Wayne Pretlow.
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| Photo courtesy of New York City Center Encores! Off-Center |
Don’t Bother Me,
I Can’t Cope
remains a relevant piece of musical theatre.
It frames the social voice and point of view of the time period in which
it was written, and genuinely rings true today.
The show runs for a very limited time at New York City Center through
July 28.
Domenick Danza
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