Jamaica NYC Reviews and Tickets

66%

(27 Reviews)

Positive

41%

Mixed

48%

Negative

11%

Members say

Dated, Entertaining, Disappointing, Ambitious, Slow

About the Show

Harlem Repertory Theatre presents a revival of this 1957 Calypso musical by Yip Harburg and Harold Arlen ('The Wizard of Oz') which was a hit for Lena Horne.

'Jamaica' centers around a beautiful island girl named Savannah. She dreams of leaving her simple home for bustling New York City. But when a NYC businessman asks for her hand in marriage, she's not sure she wants to go. The production examines how an isolated community navigates the perils of love, family, and relationships while confronting the increasing pressures of American commercialism, class struggles, and racism.

Member Reviews (27)

Ambitious, Dated, Resonant, Well staged & danced, Slow

See it if Arlen/Harburg's 1957 musical about what "island folks" are like Very dated (how could it not be?) Highly energetic choreography adds a lot

Don't see it if First act vintage 50's musical; 2nd act gets too socio-political but classic 'happy ending' Three leads work hard to keep show on track

Disappointing, Dated, Jamaican accent is non-existent, Very low budget, No memorable songs

See it if you like a boy-meets-girl play; you're a fan or Harold Arlen & Yip Harburg; themes of forgiveness & transformation warm your heart

Don't see it if bad acting or lack of excitement puts you off; you're from Jamaica because there were no Jamaican accents nor relatable West Indian themes Read more

Critic Reviews (1)

September 12th, 2017

Marilyn Lester

“A colorful, exuberant revival...Grant saw the relevance of ‘Jamaica’ for today’s world and mounted an entertaining, meaningful production with a spirited, bright, and enthusiastic ensemble cast...'Jamaica' still has plenty to say and this smart HRT production communicates it with gusto...Choreography was entertaining, if not groundbreaking...Lighting and sound were both uneven and often distracting.”
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