Girls, Hurry Up And See This, Before It Closes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                    It is a shame that this show has posted a closing date of  February 23, since there is so much good theater in it.

                                     James Monroe Iglehart, who plays the title role of Louis Armstrong, is the first performance I have seen this season where a man is of award caliber.  The voice, the mannerisms he incorporates into a characterization so believable one almost believes Armstrong is there.  And it does not shie away from the seedier aspects of his life--wives, women, drugs, and smoking, all of which I am sure aided in his death.  Whenever Iglehart is onstage one cannot take one's eyes off him, he is that compelling.  I would expect him to get a TONY nomination for his work; if not, then what the hell is the matter?????????????????????

                                      Then there is Darlesia Cearcy, as Lucille Wilson, aka "Brown Sugar."  Of the women in Armstrong's life, hers is not only the most prominent of them all, but she also gives the best performance.  Her vocals are top notch, and she can move with the best of them. There is a little show over at the Majestic called "Gypsy" that I think she would be fabulous at, in the part of Rose.  I am not kidding, girls!  But then she is not the so-called Almighty Audra!!!!!!!!!!!  And if you think that is just a taste of my review post for "Gypsy," you are right, darlings.  "A Wonderful World" does everything right.  "Gypsy," on the other hand....................

                                           Ricky Henshaw's choreography and Christoper Renshaw's choreography keep what I expected to be a low energy show and lengthy, have made good with this fast moving, never stopping for a momnent, type of show, with endless, abundant energy.  Yes, he sings, the title song, and yes, he sings "Hello, Dolly!"  My only regret is no drag queen stood in for BARBRA, to recreate that iconic scene in the movie.

                                                 I had low expectations going into this show, but sometimes those can turn out to be the biggest surprise.  "A Wonderful World" is that, and I urge you to see it before it closes.

                                                    Like the show's character would say, "This is Louis, Dolly!!!!!!!!!!!!"