Based on the iconic 1970s movie The Harder They Come comes to life at the Barbican. Ivanhoe Martin (originally played by Jimmy Cliff) is a country boy who arrives in Kingston with a dream of making it big in the dog-eat-dog reggae industry. But the social and political corruption of the time shuts him out and he is forced to engage in criminal activity to achieve success. Can a diamond emerge clean from muddy waters? We begin at Ivan’s nine night where his humorous and touching story as ‘Rhygin’ the rebel unfolds, and it is one that still resonates today…

Fast paced and tightly scripted the tension is maintained throughout the 170 or so minutes of the producton. Rolan Bell as the main protagonist Ivan is superbly cast. He walks and talks with the determination of a lion but has the voice of an angel. Other standout performances include Joanna Francis who plays love interest Elsa (and boasts a set of pipes that’ll give you goose bumps) as well as comedy giant Marcus Powell and veteran performer Chris Tummings. Fortunately the Jamaican patwa is fluid and accessible without slipping into the farcical territory of Cool Runnings. Phew.

Director Dawn Reid manages to create a tropical atmosphere so pungent that you could almost feel the sun beating down on your face. The main star of the evening was without doubt the classical songs like ‘Wonderful World, Beautiful People’, ‘Many Rivers to Cross’ ‘Pressure Drop and ‘Sitting in Limbo’. The music so ovepowered you that it was impossible to keep the hips from swaying and the feet from tapping.

With a standing ovation and numerous encores you left the theatre with the same unending optimism that permeated the whole production. So at last a musical with rhythm. Irie.

The Harder They Come
6th March – 5th April
Barbican Theatre
Silk Street, London EC2 8DS
Call Box Office: 020 7638 8891 for times and prices
https://www.barbican.org.uk/eticketing/performancelist.asp?ShoID=14826

**** Four Stars