Apr 3 (edited) • Lessons & Reflections
🎭 Living Strong Theater Review: Jelly’s Last Jam
Last night, I sat in the audience at Bristol Riverside Theatre for opening night of Jelly’s Last Jam…
And I’ll tell you straight—
I didn’t just watch a show.
I stepped into a living, breathing experience.
🎺 The Living Strong Lens
When I go into a theater, I’m not sitting there with a clipboard.
I’m asking something deeper:
Did they take me somewhere?
Did they pull me out of my world… and bring me into theirs?
And last night?
Yes… they did.
Opening night carries its own energy. There are nerves, there are moments still settling, and there’s discovery happening in real time.
But by Act Two…
They weren’t searching anymore.
They were becoming.
🔥 Performances That Carried the Story
The man embodying Jelly Roll Morton—Stanley Martin—brought a voice and presence that grounded the entire show.
Forrest McClendon as Chimney Man…
That voice didn’t just sit in the room—it moved through it.
And Renee Reed as Anita…
That Act Two duet?
That’s where everything locked in emotionally.
And I’ve got to say this as well…
The Honeys.
Three women who helped carry the storytelling alongside Chimney Man—and my wife, , as Honey Number Two.
They moved beautifully through the show, guiding the story, supporting the rhythm, and yes…
They looked fantastic. Confident. Expressive. And very sexy in the way the story calls for.
Because this is real life being told.
And Jelly Roll Morton’s world?
It wasn’t polished. It wasn’t filtered.
It was bold. It was human. And the show doesn’t shy away from that.
And there was one scene that really stood out to me…
An edgy moment—beautifully directed and staged—where Jelly Roll Morton and Anita begin their love affair.
The way they used the bed… the music… the timing… the physical storytelling of that intimacy—
It was done with taste, control, and intention.
I remember when the scene began, thinking to myself, “Oh… they’re going there…”
And before I knew it, I was completely pulled into it.
That’s not an easy scene to land.
But it was handled in a way that served the story, respected the moment, and brought you deeper into their connection.
And knowing it was opening night?
You could already feel it… this moment is only going to get stronger.
💃 Movement, Rhythm, and That Tap… Oh That Tap
Directed by Tyrone L. Robinson, the stage never felt limited.
Every inch had purpose.
And let me speak on this from experience…
I come from ballet and jazz. That’s my foundation. But I’ve also done a show where I had to step into tap—and I’ll tell you, that’s a whole different discipline.
It takes work. It takes humility. It takes time to even begin to feel comfortable with it.
So when I say this…
The tap dancing was phenomenal.
Sharp. Clean. Musical.
But what really stood out—
was the full choreography across the entire show.
This wasn’t just about tap.
This was a movement-driven production.
Choreography by yaTande Whitney V. Hunter and Dewitt Fleming Jr.
What I saw was:
Big, expansive movement on a smaller stage
Strong, full-bodied performers—tall, powerful characters—moving with control and confidence
Jumps, transitions, and staging that kept the energy alive
There was a beautiful sense of period movement throughout.
You could feel the time, the style, the world they were in.
The staging kept shifting, flowing…
It never sat still.
This is a show that moves.
And because it moves—
it keeps you locked in.
🎼 The Sound, The Look, The Feel
Musical direction by Victoria Theodore—outstanding.
Set design by Jason Simms—creative and constantly in motion.
Costumes by LeVonne Lindsay—rich and expressive.
Lighting by Alan C. Edwards—some brilliant moments, still tightening in places.
And the band… the orchestra…
Phenomenal.
They were part of the storytelling, not just behind it.
🎬 A Standing Ovation for the Crew
This part matters.
Because not everything happens in the spotlight.
There was a moment where a set of stairs was brought from stage left out toward just off center stage for a number.
And when it was time to move it back to stage left…
There was a small glitch.
It caught slightly. Just enough to notice.
Opening night.
That’s part of it.
But here’s what impressed me—
After the show?
The crew was already working on it.
Adjusting. Fixing. Dialing it in.
That’s professionalism.
That’s pride in the craft.
So let me say this clearly:
This production is the cast… the band… the orchestra… the crew… the stagehands… the entire team behind the curtain.
And they all deserve recognition.
🎭 The Audience… A Beautiful Reflection
I took a moment to look around…
And what I saw was powerful.
Young adults, older adults
Couples, individuals
People from different backgrounds and cultures
All there together.
Now let me say this clearly—
This is a show for mature audiences.
The language, the themes, the sensuality—it reflects the real life of Jelly Roll Morton and the world he lived in.
And that honesty is part of what makes the story land.
And still…
To see that room filled with people from all walks of life, all connected through this one story?
That’s theater at its best.
👨👦 A Ride Home Reflection
My son CJ came with me.
He’s 21.
And on the way home, he said:
“I wish it went a little longer… I wanted more of the story.”
That right there?
That’s a compliment.
And like me, he had that moment too…
Hearing his mom’s voice on stage…
It pulls you out for a second.
But even with that—
He got pulled right back in.
❤️ A Personal Moment
When my wife stepped on that stage…
Yeah… I had to catch myself.
Because for a moment, I wasn’t the critic.
I was just proud.
Then I settled back in…
And let the story take me again.
🥋 Living Strong Takeaway
You don’t arrive finished.
You grow into the moment.
And I watched that happen live.
🎟️ Final Word
If you want:
Powerful voices
Storytelling that pulls you in
Music that moves you
Tap dancing that hits your soul
And if you love stories that take you to the edge… and even push it a bit…
This is a story for you.
Go see Jelly’s Last Jam at Bristol Riverside Theatre.
Because this isn’t just a show.
It’s an experience.
And when someone walks out saying,
“I wanted more…”
That tells you everything.
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🎭 Living Strong Theater Review: Jelly’s Last Jam
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