The current Broadway Porgy and Bess, about a community of black fishermen in South Carolina in the 1930’s, is a thrilling theatrical experience in a magnificent production brilliantly directed by Diane Paulus and choreographed with exciting verve by Ronald K. Brown played on a simple (but profound) set by Riccardo Hernandez. The beautiful Audra McDonald’s rich voice and powerful acting of Bess, a multilevel character, shakes the theater, Norm Lewis as the crippled Porgy gives us an emotional rip, and Phillip Boykin will churn your guts as the evil, powerful Crown.
The entire cast of very strong singer/actors is top level, and the result is a show without a moment that isn’t gripping. Christopher Akerlind’s masterful lighting design, mixing lights and shadows, underlines the inner content of each scene, bringing each moment to vivid life. Orchestrations by William David Brohn and Christopher Jahnke are merely superb, bringing clear beauty to the wonderful melodies by George Gershwin, which enhance the lyrics by Ira Gershwin.
This adaptation by Suzan-Lori Parks and Diedre L. Murray of the original book by DuBose and Dorothy Heyward gives us a show for the 21st Century -- two and a half hours of exciting Broadway.
