Freestyle Love Supreme
Reviewed by Julia Stier
Pasadena Playhouse
Through August 7
RECOMMENDED
It seems as though everything Lin-Manuel Miranda touches turns to gold.
And that holds true for Freestyle Love Supreme – now playing at the Pasadena Playhouse. Recipient of a 2020 Special Tony Award, this completely improvised show was conceived by Anthony Veneziale, and created by Thomas Kail, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Veneziale.
I first learned about the concept of Freestyle Love Supreme while reading a “making of” book during the height of the Hamilton frenzy. In his book, Hamilton: The Revolution, Miranda shares a bit about a freestyle hip-hip group that he started with his friends called – you guessed it – Freestyle Love Supreme. They would create on-the-fly raps, challenging each other to see who could come up with the cleverest turn of phrase. He credits the group with his ability to dream up smart, witty, and unique rhymes.
However, despite the credibility that Miranda’s name lends to this show, it would fully stand on its own two feet without it.
These performers and musicians are exceptionally talented, supremely talented (to put a cheesy spin on it). With artistry and skills that transcend what is typically expected of a musical theater performer, these rappers, singers, beatboxers, and two keyboardists awe and delight: Andre Bancroft aka “Jelly Donut,“ Richard Baskin, Jr. aka “Rich Midway,” Jay C. Ellis (“Jellis J”), Aneesa Folds (“Young Nees”), Mark Martin (“Mandible”), Kaila Mullady (“Kaiser Rözé”), Morgan Reilly (“Hummingbird”), James Rushin ( “Shifty Hills”) Victoria Theodore (“Gigawatts”), and Anthony Veneziale (“Two Touch”).
As in improv show, even though the content is made up on the spot – typically with the help of a word or story from the audience – there is still a lot of structure. The artists take us through a series of “games,” and craft their wordplay within the rules of each different game.
To give an example, one such “game” is called Second Chance. Veneziale, who serves as a sort of emcee, asks an audience member to share an embarrassing story from their past and how, if they had the chance to go back, would they have remedied the situation?
The artists then take the story and run with it, recreating first the actual story, then “rewinding” – a trick of staging that fans of Hamilton will remember from “Satisfied” – and starting the story from the top; this time, giving the audience member the outcome they wished the story had.
You will never see the same show twice because the scenarios change with each performance. The craft, wit and musicianship, however, are a constant.
Pasadena Playhouse, 39 South El Molino Avenue, Pasadena, Wed-Fri., 8 pm; Sat, 2. & 8 pm; Sun., 2 pm; through August 7th. Running time: 90 minutes with no intermission. PasadenaPlayhouse.org
