Natalie B's blog

Do Something Different... 

So last week, I was indulging myself in the wonders in the theatrical wonders of West London, bumping into a Heroes character in Kilburn and then singing along to the Sound of Music in the West End. This week I went East...

The Barbican was my destination – possibly one of the most monstrous looking buildings in London from the outside. But on the inside, what an artistic delight. If you’ve never been an always meant to... you really should. Over the weekend the Barbican launched its "Do Something Different" weekend, encouraging you to do just that. Saturday night I watched the BBC Symphony Orchestra perform the works of Bartok, along with visuals from Van Gogh. Culture-tastic you may think and possibly slightly pretentious sounding... but it wasn’t at all! Looking around the audience at the performance, the average age was 50+ but if you’ve ever played a musical instrument you’ll know how amazing it is watching a professional orchestra create the sound it does. And to be honest, something I’d never seen live, only on the telly. Really and truly an incredible experience.

Last night, I returned to the Barbican once again to watch The Harder They Come, based on the iconic 70’s film of the same name which introduced Jamaican music and Jimmy Cliff to the mainstream. Jimmy Cliff and his music featured in the film including some of his soon-to-be-well-loved hits such as ‘The Harder They Come, You can Get It If You Really Want and Many Rivers to Cross’ as well as the awesome sounding River’s Of Babylon.

The film told the story of Ivan ‘Rhygin’ Martin, a self styled Robin Hood and when it was adapted for the stage by Perry Henzell, he added another strain to the story with Ivan desperate to break into the music industry. This paved the way for a soundtrack that many people regard as an introduction to reggae music as we know it.

What we saw last night was an amazingly colourful and vibrant performance of reggae, dancing and comedy in The Harder They Come. Ivan tried desperately to look after the women he loves and make his first record, but the odds are against him and he has to resort to selling drugs in order to earn any money... this of course doesn’t end well. Throughout the show, you get to lap up incredible rich sound of reggae, snigger at the flares and leather flat caps and see the accompanying musicians – playing right in front of you rather than hidden beneath the stage.

It really is a treat and the reported standing ovation from every performance to date, was re-enacted as the electric crowd, who had been heckling the whole way through, jumped out of their seat as soon as they were allowed, including Rudolph Walker (Patrick from EastEnders) who was dancing in front of me!! 

You've got until April 5 to catch The Harder They Come at The Barbican.

I’ll be back soon, to talk abuot my evening with a personal shopper!!

Till then...
Ta ta for now
Natalie B x

Posted by Natalie B on March 12, 2008 at 10:18AM

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