Thunder Knocking on the Door

a blues musical
book by Keith Glover, music and lyrics by Keb' Mo' and Anderson Edwards
starring: Leslie Uggams, Chuck Cooper, Peter Jay Fernandez, Marva Hicks, and Michael McElroy
at the Minetta Lane Theatre, Greenwich Vilage (off 6th Ave one block below 3rd St).
Information and reservations: 212 420 8000
reviewed by Michael Lydon


It takes guts to title a musical, Thunder Knocking on the Door,because
then you'd better deliver some true ka-boom onstage or get laughed out
of town. Thunder Knocking on the Door, now playing at the Village's
intimate Minetta Lane Theatre, delivers ka-booms a plenty--it's an
explosively entertaining show, Leslie Uggams leading a fine cast in
singing up a storm and telling a fascinating and poignant tale, mixed
from magic and music, of an African-American family in not-so-long ago
Alabama.


Seems that years before, blues guitarist Dregster Dupree (Chuck
Cooper) had a cutting contest at a crossroads with a mysterious
blue-eyed stranger named Marvel Thunder (Peter Jay Fernandez). Despite
Thunder's supernatural powers, Dregster won, and now the
musician-magician has returned, years after Dregster's death, to fight
a second battle against Dregster's talented son and daughter, Glory and
Jaguar Dupree (Marva Hicks and Michael McElroy). Their Mama, Good
Sister Dupree (Uggams) wants to protect the youngsters, but she's
facing her own problems: still mourning Dregster, she's afraid
to commit to his steady-going twin brother, Jaguar Dupree Senior
(Cooper again).


Keith Glover's script blends a larger-than-life (and sometimes
awkward) style of story-telling with scenes of down-home realism that
land smack dab on the audience's funny bone. When Good Sister and
Jaguar Senior, superbly played by veteran actors Uggams and Cooper,
speak their minds with funky frankness over breakfast in the kitchen,
the Minetta Lane crowd howled at each well-turned observation. Tired of
arguing, Jaguar plants his big feet under the table and digs into his
grits. "Now my grits is cold," he complains. "Eat 'em anyway," snaps
Good Sister.


From such moments the songs by Keb' Mo' and Anderson Edwards flow with
miraculous ease, and what songs could tell such a story? Nothing but
the blues! There have been blues revues and shows that included blues
like Ain't Misehavin' and Bubbling Brown Sugar, but Thunder Knocking on
the Door may be the first musical to tell a fully staged story using
only the blues. Many varieties of the blues, to be sure--down-home
acoustic blues, lindy-hopping blues, rock 'n' roll blues, suave rhythm
and blues, and psychedelic blues--but every note of Thunder's score,
crisply played by a quintet led by musical director George
Caldwell,comes deep from the black-and-bluesy side of the tracks. There
are blues ballads that will bring tears to your eyes, gospel harmonies
that'll make you shout amen, and uptempo, uptown jumpers that will get
you clapping, tapping , and wiggling in your seat.


When it comes time for the guitar battle climax, the music, the
staging, and the story come together with truly thunderous power.
Through blinding lightning flashes, the guitarists stalk each other
like prize fighters, attacking each other with red-hot riffs that burn
like flamethrowers blasts, until the poor loser (of course, I won't
tell you who!) collapses at center stage like a defeated gladiator.

Director Oskar Eustis keeps the pace quick--that's good because
Thunder is a long show. The sets, costumes, and lighting are all first
rate. Leslie Uggams pours all her starpower sparkle into Good Sister,
and Cooper lends his own long stage experience to earthy Jaguar Senior.
Marva Hicks, who's had a Billboard Top-Ten hit with "Never Been in Love
Before" as well as extensive stage and film credits, plays young Glory
with tender strength. Peter Jay Fernandez invests Thunder with
seductive mystery, and tall, skinny Michael McElroy in a shiny mohair
suit gives the rock singing Jaguar Wilson Pickett's boyish charm.


Thunder Knocking on the Door--a true blues musical that will charm you
and cheer you, move you and groove you. If you already love black
American music, Thunder is right up your alley, but even if your
musical taste got stuck somewhere way back there with "How Much is That
Doggie in the Window," Thunder will sending you home smiling, happy to
be singing the blues.