Review: THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES, Almeida Theatre
Photo credit: Marc Brenner
With such a huge appetite for new musicals at the moment, the Almeida Theatre is certainly working to create fresh and unexpected work, and their new production The Secret Life Of Bees (based on the novel of the same name) is no exception; providing a warm embrace of a musical that gently works its way to your heart and leaves you beaming from ear to ear.
It’s 1964 in South Carolina and tension is high. Central characters Rosaleen and Lily (Abiona Omunua and Eleanor Worthington-Cox respectively) are both looking for an escape and find it in the form of the Boatwright sisters and their Bee Farm. Learning to truly become themselves and take up the space they deserve. A wonderful story of self discovery and emotion that translates really well to a musical; not a single opportunity for a song has been wasted. In a gentle, yet strongly unafraid approach to the subject matter of racism and domestic abuse.
The songs themselves, with music by Duncan Sheik and lyrics from Susan Birkenhead, provide a wonderful wave of emotion that soars around the venue. Though few of the songs themselves are instantly memorable, the way they make you feel stays with you. And isn’t that what’s more important? The songs crafted feel confident and necessary in their place in the production. It’s clear that this story hasn’t been made a musical for the sake of it and careful consideration has gone into blending book and music as one cohesive production.
This is massively helped by the exceptional vocals of every single cast member. The voices within this cast are unmatched - the power, the harmonies, the clarity is undeniably some of the most superlative in London right now. The sound of the cast almost lifts you up with them on their journeys through the story. Rachel John leading the Boatwright’s as August with an inner confidence that places her as the mother figure perfectly within the cast dynamic. Tarin Callender also offers much welcome comedic relief in the role of Neil. His scenes with Ava Brennan as June are a joyful highlight.
In fact, all aspects of the show contribute to an incredibly warm and welcoming experience, mirroring the source material and how the Boatwright’s welcome the two younger women. The set design (by Soutra Gilmour) has a beautifully defined yellow and red colour palette that is wonderfully enhanced by Neil Austin’s lighting work, blending seamlessly into the surrounding Almeida theatre itself.
It is when the show buckles down into the story and its revelations that it loses some momentum that it has worked hard to build as the audience wrap their heads around what has truly happened rather towards the end of the show. Yet while this is the case, the emotion of the moments still land well and allow for a broad, if not a more in-depth, understanding of the piece.
**** Four stars
Reviewed by: Callum Wallace
The Secret Life of Bees plays at the Almeida Theatre until 27 May, with further information here.
