One Hundred Ways

Men of Soul

There’s big news from the top, just as the incredibly entertaining and uplifting Black Ensemble Theater celebrates its 50th anniversary. Jackie Taylor is announcing that Daryl Brooks, the creative force behind so many of the theater’s wonderful, effervescent productions over the past 20 years, has been named Artistic Director. Congratulations to Mr. Brooks for this well-deserved achievement! And then, to illustrate why this talented young man is the perfect new face of the Black Ensemble Theater, the company has revived MEN OF SOUL, one of his thoroughly researched and most entertaining productions from the company’s archives of wonderful shows. 

Always a joyous, melodic gift to Chicago, BET is again doing what they do best. In presenting a new, fresh production of MEN OF SOUL, this musical revue/retrospective is one of the productions that made Daryl Brooks a household name in Chicago. He originally created this piece and is once again directing a show that praises and illuminates the considerable talent of dozens of top-notch recording artists. The musical stars featured in MEN OF SOUL, both African-American and Caucasian, are some of the finest, best-loved performers of the past and present. These men have, over many decades, entertained the world with their recordings, television appearances and live concerts. They are, indeed, the musically-gifted MEN OF SOUL, and listening to their music is not only a pleasure in itself, but their music will spark many fond memories for audiences of all ages.

The show bursts on the stage with color, glitter and pizzazz. An ensemble of ten super talented men and women, some familiar faces and a few newcomers, are smartly dressed in costume designer Gregory Graham’s sparkling suits and flowing chiffon gowns. They open the show with an original, titular song, that was actually written by Mr. Brooks. The catchy tune sets the pace for what lies ahead. The stage’s been set and now we’re off and running. Backed by talented and masterful musical director, arranger and drummer, Robert Reddrick, along with his sweet-sounding, six-member musical combo, the enthusiastic audience soon finds themselves clapping, swaying, singing along and dancing in their seats.

Every single performer in this polished production is superb. Each singer/dancer is a standout, in his/her own right, and could easily headline an entire show devoted to any one of the many singers portrayed in MEN OF SOUL. With a bit of biographical introduction, each performer takes the stage to wow audiences with his unique talent. Dazzled by the stars being portrayed, the audience will feel as if they’ve suddenly stepped back in time. Combined with some visual magic created by Sydney Lynne’s set design and highlighted by Denise Karczewski’s creative lighting design, as well as DJ Douglass’ large and colorful projections, theatergoers will seamlessly slip back to the Golden Era of Soul.

Jaitee Thomas’ exciting portrayal of Ray Charles opens the show, with his “Night Time is the Right Time” and the singer’s signature, “Georgia On My Mind.” Thomas nearly stops the show, just as it’s beginning. But there’s a lot to come. Handsome Vincent Jordan creates a spot-on Lionel Richie crooning “Endless Love,” and then really gets the party going with his rousing “All Night Long.” Ben Woods, performing as Jeffrey Osborne, makes beautiful music with his rendition of “On the Wings of Love.” And BET favorite, Dwight Neal, steps into the shoes of Freddie Jackson, delivering a gorgeous,“You Should Be Mine” and “You are My Lady.”

Michael J. Santos dons a pair of sprayed-on trousers and becomes Tom Jones, singing “I Who Have Nothing.” Kevin Pollack absolutely brings down the house with his performance as Joe Cocker singing a thrillingly performed Woodstock version of the Beatles hit, “With a Little Help From My Friends.” He then magically transforms into the more mature, sober and cleaned up Joe Cocker to croon the singer’s multiple award-winning “Up Where We Belong.” But just when audiences think they’ve seen it all, along comes multitalented Maxel McLoud Schingen, in his Black Ensemble debut, playing the late, great singer, Prince. He closes Act I with the iconic, “Purple Rain,” spinning, shimmying and playing air guitar. And all this is only the first act of MEN OF SOUL. Theatergoers will  need a15-minute intermission, simply to catch their breath!

Act II gets off to a bang with the show’s three lovely ladies, who make backup singing and dancing into an art form. Beautiful Raeven Carroll, Tamara Batiest and Chloe Khaleeah Keira Johnson all return to the Black Ensemble stage, sporting their own individual and cumulative talents. They open the act with Chaka Khan’s “I’m Every Woman,” while we see a projection that reads “The Women of Soul.” We can only hope this portends another wonderful musical revue to come later at Black Ensemble Theater.

Ben Woods returns to the stage as Billy Ocean, opening this half of the revue with his soulful and toe-tapping, “Caribbean Queen.” Maxel McLoud Schingen returns to gift the audience with his version of James Ingram’s “One Hundred Ways.” Next, talented Vincent Jordan astounds the audience as the late and great Peabo Bryson, warming up the crowd with his “Feel the Fire.” Then Jordan transports everyone to “A Whole New World,” a duet sung with Regina Belle, from Disney’s “Aladdin.” Suddenly Luther Vandross, brilliantly portrayed by Dwight Neal, brings us the vocalist’s great “Stop to Love” and “If Only For One Night.” Next the charismatic, babyfaced Michal J. Santos dons a bowl-cut wig, a feathered helmet and glittery glasses. He sits at a piano portraying Elton John with a rousing rendition of “Benny and the Jets” that gets the audience rocking and clapping to its rhythm. Kevin Pollack returns as an affectionately portrayed Billy Joel, fighting depression through his music with the catchy, “My Life.” Then the audience gets to bop to the beat of El DeBarge’s “Rhythm of the Night,” performed by gifted BET newcomer, Maxel McLoud Schingen; and Jaitee Thomas, as Bobby Womack, sings “If You Think You’re Lonely Now.” 

The entire ensemble takes the stage for one last time with a wonderful medley, saluting the incomparable Bill Withers. It makes a magnificently fitting finale to MEN OF SOUL. We end the evening delighting in the variety of artist’s work: the soulful “Grandma’s Hands,” a stirring “Ain’t No Sunshine,” an impassioned “Use Me,” a fervidly sung “Just the Two of Us” and, closing the show, Mr. Withers’ ode to friendship, “Lean on Me.” As James Ingram so beautifully sang, there’s “One Hundred Ways” to find joy, recall memories and experience sheer pleasure in Daryl Brooks’ reboot of his marvelous and musical MEN OF SOUL

Highly Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas

Presented June 20-August 2 by Black Ensemble Theater at their Cultural Center, 4450 N. Clark St., Chicago.

Tickets are available by calling the box office at 773-769-4451 or by going to www.blackensemble.org.

Additional information about this and other area productions can be found by visiting www.theatreinchicago.com.

Photos by Aaron Reese Boseman