One love! One heart! Let’s get together and feel alright! Everyone could stand to feel alright right about now. And what better way to do it than by coming out to see the MET Fun Company’s production of Bob Marley’s Three Little Birds? Directed and choregraphed by Ray Hatch, with Musical Direction by Valerie A. Higgs, this six-person ensemble on stage is jammin’! They’re jammin’ and they want you to come jammin’ too! Based on the story by Cedella Marley, with music and lyrics by Bob Marley, adapted for the stage by Michael J. Bobbitt, this hour-long fun fest of Marley’s music will bring a great feeling of fun and learning to audiences of all ages.
The overall production is adorable, filled with bright colors and lively music which is sure to entertain the younger audiences (and those audiences who are younger at heart!). Set Designers Cody James and McKenzie Stewart keep it simple with brightly painted background pieces, featuring the rolling hills of Jamaica in a rainbow of colors and little music notes. The truly inspiring set piece comes from mural designer Yemi Fagbohun, who has imagined the wonders that the island of Jamaica has to offer and fabricated them into being on the centralized backdrop mural. A nod to Julie Herber, MET Fun Company Artistic Director— and for this show Properties and Costume Designer, for her colorful contribution to the show’s aesthetic. There are baskets filled with vibrant balls of yarn, meant to represent fruits, and a fabulous push-cart for Mama Cedella’s Spicy Jerk Chicken! Herber even puts the perfect avian touches on the show’s sartorial selections (it is a show called Three Little Birds, after all) by giving Dr. Bird and the other birds who appear during “I Know” brilliant and vivacious hints of plumage on their costumes.
While there’s no meet-n-greet opportunity (due to Covid-safety precautions) at the show’s conclusion, as is MET Fun Company’s custom for younger audience members, everyone in attendance feels welcomed by the performers’ vivacious and inviting natures, which they extend throughout various group numbers, including the call to the audience to wiggle and clap along from their seats! Director Ray Hatch keep the pace flowing nicely with each scene and song transitioning one to the next and the cute little island-inspired rhythmic dance routines that he incorporates into various musical numbers is the perfect touch to keep everyone in the audience engaged and excited.
The company works wonderfully together as a whole; all six performers deliver varying degrees of a Jamaican accent, some of whom carry this vocal affectation into their singing voices and it makes for an immersive cultural exploration of the island and heritage of Jamaica, which is intrinsically nestled into the story’s plot. Cedella Marley’s book tells the tale of a young, frightened boy— Ziggy— who insists that staying inside his home and watching the only television channel— the weather-news program— is the only way to be safe from bad things like hurricanes and Duppy! (For those unfamiliar with this term, Duppy is part Jamaican folklore, a malevolent spirit— who in this story sneaks around trying to steal children’s hair right off their heads!) But Ziggy’s lovely pet-parrot, Dr. Bird, implores him to explore the island, experience the real Jamaica, and learn all about the wonders and splendors and rhythm of the island. It’s a wonderful tale for everyone.
Ziggy (Jordan Essex) has the unfortunate propensity of being— gasp— coward! He calls himself timid. Nansi (Ezra Lavala) calls Ziggy weird. Essex fully embodies the notion of being a terrified young lad (which is quite the feat as Essex is the tallest person in the ensemble, which gives everyone a good chuckle when his mama, whom he towers over, refers to him as an 11-year-old little man) and does so with great vigor. Essex has a voice ripe for singing all of the hummable Bob Marley tunes— like “Is This Love?” and “So Much Trouble in the World.” Possessed by youthful exuberance, Essex portrays not only the ‘timid’ Ziggy but a Ziggy that grows into an excited, experienced, young man once the story really gets going.
Of course, Essex’ Ziggy doesn’t just have to worry about hurricanes, mangoes falling from the sky, big disgusting bugs, or even Duppy! (One-two-three-four-five-six-seven-eight!) Ziggy has to worry about Nansi (Ezra Lavala), who is the most obnoxious and obstreperous girl in the whole island of Jamaica! Lavala does a superb job of taking this character’s annoying personality to soaring high, over-the-top heights. Lavala shares the exuberant spirit that Essex imbues in his portrayal of Ziggy but transforms that giddy-glee into something wholly irritating yet simultaneously adorable. Shrieking, bouncing, and loaded with an energy that would fatigue even Father Time, Lavala’s Nansi is truly a loveable prankster and gives Essex’ Ziggy a run for his money.
There’s Mama Cedella (Mumbi Mwaura) who is wise and kind and full of maternal support and advice. Her Jamaican accent is strong in her verbal delivery and when she doubles up as birds-of-the-background its lovely to see how freely she moves about in various musical numbers. Set Designer McKenzie Stewart also takes up some feathers, playing Tacoomah, and dances and smiles the whole time she’s in stage too.
Beware of Duppy! (one-two-three-four-five-six-seven-eight!) That malevolent spirit, played by Mark Wallace, is out to get you! He creeps about, slinky and stealthy— but fear not, little ones (or those that spook easily!) Wallace’s Duppy is modeled around the silly, hapless villain archetype, rather than anything too dark and dangerous. There is a brilliant moment during “Running Away” (which is a song sang and harmonized by ‘the three little birds’ Sylvern Grooms Jr., Mumbi Mwaura, McKenzie Stewart) where a Scooby-Doo-Benny-Hill style chase ensues across the background of the stage and Wallace’s Duppy has the most hilarious mincing, high-knee kick-creep to move himself back and forth, just watch him and try not to giggle! Wallace’s Duppy even gets his own solo song! “Natural Mystic” is delivered with just a hint of creepiness in his voice, giving him just enough edge to let everyone know Duppy is the ‘bad guy’ in this story.
Flapping his arms and leading all the birds in glorious song, Dr. Bird (Sylvern Grooms Jr.) is the voice, the smile, and the soul of Three Little Birds. With an indefatigable grin and lively spirit that radiates wildly through all of his vocal numbers, Grooms Jr., is the epitome of the rhythm of the island, fully embracing and embodying all the joys Jamaica has to offer. When harmonizing with Essex’ Ziggy during “So Much Trouble in the World” you get a real sense of Grooms Jr., vocal prowess. He balances this divinely against the more upbeat fun numbers like “One Love Montage” and the opening “Jammin” montage. As vocally free as the bird he’s portraying, Grooms Jr., puts on a show like no other and will have all the little ones clapping along by the show’s conclusion.
Don’t be afraid of Duppy! (one-two-three-four-five-six-seven-eight!) Do explore the wonders of Bob Marley’s Three Little Birds at MET Fun Company this weekend. They’re jammin’! And they could be jammin’ with you! Jammin’ and jammin’ and jammin’ and jammin’ and jammin’ and jammin’— won’t you come jam along too?
Running Time: 60 minutes with no intermission
Three Little Birds, a MET Fun Company production, plays through Sunday September 5, 2021 at the Baker Park Bandshell— 21 N. Bentz Street in downtown historic Frederick, MD. Tickets are available for purchase on-site at the box office ticketing pavilion window, through the box office at 301-694-4744, and in advance online.
