COMPANY NAME: Khadijatou	TITLE OF SHOW: Into the Jungle
DATE OF VISIT: 28/10/99	VENUE: Blue Elephant Theatre

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After seeing this show my first thoughts were that although the performance had many flaws, Khadijatou is a very talented artist with huge potential. Given a budget, a director, and enough rehearsal time, I think she could produce excellent shows.

 

The show seemed (to my Anglo-Saxon mentality) to driven by black issues. The songs, dances and dramatic presentations by Khadijatou and her cast discussed the African origins of all black people, the slavery of the past centuries and the consequent injustices, the current racial identity of black people and outlook for the future. The show, never glossing over the harsh points of black history, came to a hopeful conclusion with the song ‘Make me Over’.

 

The set was well conceived and versatile, a low wooden frame formed a right-angle on the floor making a walkway, stage, witness box, among other things. However the low budget of the show was given away by the frame - it had patches of paint missing which was visually distracting. The costumes again were well conceived, but obviously low budget, sometimes items from the performers’ wardrobes. Nothing wrong with that, but one considers the cost of the tickets – at £7.50 you want something that does not hint at amateurism. However Khadijatou worked her costume changes into the action very well, with many seamless transitions. Part of her set and/or prop array was a large canvas bag, which she would often rummage around in for the next costume or required prop and this was a clever and well-executed theatrical device.

 

Though well performed, the show suffered from numerous technical problems and under-rehearsal. The microphone used by Khadijatou frequently cut out which made it extremely difficult to hear what she was singing /saying – especially to an ear untrained in rhythm and rap like mine! There were also some prop/set issues which would have been ironed out with a technical rehearsal or similar. As a small illustration of this point, at the end of the first half Khadijatou brought out three tea candles and placed them in a line which was then framed by a square of light projected onto the floor. However before lighting them (from a lighter stashed in the canvas sack) she had to unfold the wicks which was laborious and unnecessary. If the rehearsal had included the candles, she would have realised the problem and picked up the wicks before the show to eliminate the need to fiddle with them while the audience waited. Not to mention that when the square light shone down, the effect of the candles was eliminated. Also strobes were used during the performance and this was NOT announced on any of the publicity, the programme, or in any verbal announcements. I dread to think what would have happened, had any epileptics been in the audience.

 

I do not mean to make this assessment a list of faults – not in the least, because I thought it was a good show, and I want to encourage Khadijatou because I think she is a charismatic, gutsy and talented performer. Her dancing was effusive and passionate, a joy to watch; she should abandon herself even more and give herself totally to the movement to produce an even more electrifying performance. Her lyrics were pointed and intelligent, and her voice had a lot of quality which made it even clearer that her subjects were close to her heart (the only thing I can suggest is some singing lessons, which might improve her strength and pitch). Drawing the audience into one of the songs was a great way of drawing the audience into the spirit of the show and may even have been better employed earlier on! It certainly worked for me!

 

The upshot of all this discussion is that Khadijatou (and the Blue Elephant Theatre, who are putting in valiant effort at building up an Arts Oasis in South London) deserves funding so that she can develop this work further - it deserves to be exposed to more than just the fifteen or so people that were in the audience that night.