Get Up Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical ★★★★ Lyric Theatre | Until January 8, 2023


This month marks the first anniversary of the arrival of Get Up Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical in the West End. Now there's only a couple of months left to catch a show which is full of all the joy and positive energy that the unforgettable Bob Marley brought to the stage. It also explores the pain he experienced on a personal level, his abandonment as a child and his charged relationships. While Marley was a champion of love and peace on a spiritual and political level, his own tangled family life tortured him and seemed to have left him rudderless when it came to forming personal bonds. As Marley, David Albury absolutely channels the late, great reggae artist, and he does an amazing job of conveying the charisma and energy of the singer who for many became the spirit of Jamaica. As Rita, Marley's extraordinarily forgiving and patient wife, Cleopatra Rey is simply spellbinding. Her vocal gymnastics in "No Woman, No Cry" deservedly bring down the house. For us, the other standout cast member is Craig Blake as DJ Sway/Claudie Massop. From the beginning he sets an upbeat tone for the show and his enthusiasm is totally contagious. If you are looking for a cure for the winter blues, this is the musical that will have you standing up and jamming.

Rated: ★★★★

Reviewed by J.C.
Photo by Craig Sugden.

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