A fantastic Jamaican extravaganza of a musical. Feel good. Never has the audience at the Playhouse been so enthused and enthralled as to be dancing in and out of their seats with such gusto.
The Harder They Come is a very energetic performance and by the end gets the audience dancing on their feet. It relives the iconic seventies with both the clothes worn and the songs sung. The story bases itself with the music, having the live band on stage. The music and bright lights and early reggae music drowns out the dark and bleak narrative.
The story, which is based on true events, follows a country boy (Ivan) arriving at a fast flowing city. His ambition is to become a reggae star but financially he can’t make it so he turns to an outlaw for help, but soon becomes the most wanted man in Jamaica. Running from the corrupt police he wants to spread the word about revolution, against the corrupt police and the hardship facing independent artists who are trying to be successful in the music industry. The characters (who are played very well) have their own story from the god-loving gospel priest who wants the best for the holy name to the lovable gangly DJ who acts tough but gets humiliated many times.
The large cast were strong in their ability to remain on stage for the whole performance, engaged with the music to the end. An outstanding performance by Matt Henry (playing the lead, Ivan) for his believability and for his singing and dancing talent. The set was very simple but bright, like a Jamaican bar, creating a seedy atmosphere. Although the story was overpowered by the music, the live reggae singing and the live band managed to delight young and old in the usually reserved setting of the Playhouse.