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
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
See it if You are curious about the Arlen score.
Don't see it if You are a purist and cannot deal with semi-professional, essential community theater.
See it if Love good stories for the time and music.
Don't see it if Hate musicals and dancing.
See it if want to experience a refreshing trip to the west indies
Don't see it if do not enjoy calypso
See it if you want to support the HRT. Some cast members are really good.
Don't see it if you want a "broadway" experience. This was very low budget. Some of the mics were not working properly. Read more
See it if you want to support an ambitious theatre company.
Don't see it if you're expecting the 1957 musical Jamaica.
See it if Harold Arlen’s music and Yip Harbug’s book & lyrics interest you.You enjoy an uneven, energetic cast try to make sense of a 60 yr old show.
Don't see it if You’re not engaged by community theatre performances, can’t stand bad sound design, or are not interested in the Arlen/Harburg collaboration Read more
“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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