The Musicians of Bremen Live! – a riot of colour and music as four animals learn to work together (Cahoots NI and Segerstrom Center for the Arts as part of Belfast International Arts Festival) #BIAF25

Attending a performance of The Musicians of Bremen Live! feels like being part a live-action version of a much-loved children’s book. A hen, a mule, a coyote and a bobcat find themselves thrown into a mission to return some lost musical instruments to the big city in the west coast of the US. Along the way, there are human, animal and topological dangers to avoid, and plenty of strains and stresses amongst the diverse group of characters.

Charles Way’s take on the Brothers Grimm’s fairy tale ably adapts the original plot points and refines the sense that the diverse troupe of animals have to first become comfortable listening to themselves and then to each other before they can act in harmony to live out their shared ambitions.

The colourful quartet features Ruffles the effervescent glass-half-full ideas-factory hen (“she’s for singin’ not for eatin’”) played by Philippa O’Hara. Christina Nelson brings to life the old curmudgeonly mule who isn’t afraid to get on her high horse and wiggle her ass and who is unfailingly taken for granted while having fought hard for her freedom. Making their entrance through the audience are the chaps-wearing howling coyote (Kellee Broadway) and a bobcat who never wants to be kept in the shade (Pepa Duarte).

Narrating the tale and providing the live soundtrack are Chubby Jones and Dizzy Dexter (aka composers Kyron Bourke and Padraig Dooney). The musical styles almost cross genres mid-song with moments of jazz, gospel, honky-tonk, musical theatre, blues and pop. If you’re not tapping your foot by the time I’ve Got a Friend in the North comes round, you’ll have succumbed during the starry rendition of There’s Water on the Other Side and the later Hold Onto Each Other.

Diana Ennis has gone to town with the costumes, with feathery accessories for Ruffles the hen and deep pannier bags for the mule. An upright piano is the only permanent prop on the circular stage (which also supports Cahoot’s other festival show Unlocking Sherlock). Simon Bond’s lighting effects help involve the audience by extending the atmosphere into the tiered seating in the shopping centre venue.

At times there’s so much going on with four animals bickering – or “gnarlin’” as the straight-talkin’ mule might say – along with the narrators’ vocals that the storytelling is lost in the melee. The abandonment of the pledge to return the instruments is skipped over in a heartbeat, but that’s easily forgiven when the band reach their destination.

Towards the end of the hour-long show, there’s a gorgeous ballad City That Gleams featuring Ruffles. O’Hara’s soaring vocal quality is reminiscent of Whitney Houston with a much higher range. Broadway riffs off the catchy melodies as the foursome morph from four individual animal crooners to a close harmony group. Before long – spoiler alert – we enter the psychedelic Wibble Wobble Club for a closing medley with a riot of colour and musical styles. Watch out for the hip hop-tastic mule who no longer seems so long in the tooth!

Questions of valuing the other and playing to your strengths while learning to look out for each other’s needs are universal. Conquering fears and sharing the load are much-needed traits in the US, the UK and beyond. There’s a lot packed into the show, and while the youngest audience members (suitable got ages 5+) may be transfixed by the colour, sounds and animal characterisations, the older members of Saturday afternoon’s audience were in kinks at some of the dialogue.

The Musicians of Bremen Live! was created and produced by Cahoots NI and Segerstrom Center for the Arts. It’s Northern Ireland premier is part of Belfast International Arts Festival. The short (sold out) run finished on Sunday 2 November in Cityside Retail Park.

Photo credit: Melissa Gordon/Gorgeous Photography (from the original US run of the production) 

Appreciated this review? Why not click on the Buy Me a Tea button!