FORM-Idea

The Coloured Valentino started its creative life as a play over twenty years ago. Since then, it has lived through a series of starts and stops, however, this powerful and beautiful story of Lorenzo Tucker, who became African America’s leading man in an era when both movies and audiences were segregated, has finally found its home in musical theatre which it lends itself to seamlessly. This work in progress-musical presentation produced by She’s Diverse and Circle Productions hit every note perfectly. Book by Beverly Andrews tells Tucker’s inspiring story and his fateful meeting with pioneer filmmaker Oscar Micheaux.

From the first scene we are transported to the busy streets of mid 1920’s New York, amongst the hustle and bustle is the newly arrived ‘greenhorn’ Tucker (played by Ashford Campbell). From the first note of ‘A New Day’ —music and lyrics by Anjali Perin— Campbell’s delicate and elusive voice immediately roots the audience in his corner urging him on to success. However, Tucker soon realises that a battle with racial injustice is the hardest obstacle to overcome. This is shown clearly in his audition for a part with Mae West (played by Frances McNamee).

Tucker then meets Oscar Micheaux (played by Malcolm McCallum). This meeting was to set the course for his long-desired career as a screen actor. McCallum’s deep, sonorous tones coupled with Micheaux’s knowledge of the world is a wonderful contrast to Campbell’s honey-hued tone and Tucker’s idealistic view of the world. Micheaux, who was known for filming in one take, knew that there was no time to dwell on how life should be, pragmatism was the only way to achieve success.

Tucker finds love with Ellie (played by the adorable Kelly Nicholas) but even love remains obscure and out of his reach. Campbell and Nicholas’ beautiful duet of the song, ‘Daydream’, with its haunting melody —music composed by Gwen Ferguson with lyrics by Malcolm Connell—lingers long after you’ve left the theatre.

Throughout the production Tucker is taunted by his nemesis, Rudolph Valentino, (played by Greg Miller Burns) as Tucker struggles with his own desire to be a successful screen actor.

Jo Newman and Beverly Andrews direction brought together a dream team of an ensemble who blend with such harmony. The depth of feeling they had for their characters and each other was palpable. Each in turn brought Tucker’s story, with its twists and turns, to life Johnni Fiori as Ruby, Joseph Black as Ray, Stephen Boyce as Adam, and Nardia Ruth as Doris.

The show ends with Omar a film student (played by Lemuel Knights) meeting the now elderly Tucker. Omar tells Tucker that without him and his work there would not have been an opportunity for him to now study film. Tucker is his idol, the one and only Coloured Valentino.

The songwriters Anjali Perin, Malcolm McCallum, and Gwen Ferguson, with music also by Ferguson, have created a repertoire which is second to none. Each song carries you deeper into the story. The finale song set in the 1980s, ‘Don’t You See It’s Worth It’ —lyrics by Malcolm Conell and Perin— who also composed the music, is a rousing inspirational piece that sends a wave of hope throughout the theatre.

The Coloured Valentino is a story of hopes and dreams, fighting the obstacles of racial injustice and smashing glass ceilings against all the odds. This is Andrews’ third musical outing having already produced the fantastic mini musical ‘Crossroads’ about the death of Robert Johnson, and the dance musical ‘Love Dyed in 8 Shades of Purple’, about four dancers who are Prince fans. I’m looking forward to The Coloured Valentino’s full production, as this is a story that needs to be told, and as Oscar Micheaux once said, “We want to see our lives dramatized on the screen as we are living it, the same as other people the world over.”