In 2002, Freestyle Love Supreme was created by the Tony winning team which would eventually soar into the theatrical stratosphere with Hamilton (2015). Composer Lin-Manuel Miranda was also awarded a Pulitzer Prize for that effort. Thomas Kail has directed four Broadway shows and the recent (and superb) Fosse/Verdon on television. These two co-created this show with Anthony Veneziale. What were these future geniuses up to after their fortuitous meeting at Wesleyan University?
Freestyle Love Supreme was presented by the then much smaller arts incubator Ars Nova back in 2005. With the gazillions being raked in every week by Hamilton and a film of Mr. Miranda’s first Broadway musical In The Heights on the way, this show was revived off-Broadway earlier this year. A successful run prompted an uptown transfer to the relative intimate Booth Theater.
This incarnation is my first encounter with the piece. When I left the theater, I felt that I had been awash in a sea of positive joo joo. There is a noticeable sense of community between the audience and the performers. Without question there is some good-natured ribbing (“life as a white guy on the upper east side”). There is also a “we did it!” spirit as this little engine that could finally emerges into the grand spotlight.
The show is described as a “freestyle, hip-hop, improvisational, never-before-seen comedy ride.” When it begins, the players are introduced with labels such as microphone one and two. They ask the audience for verb ideas. In the performance I attended, run, gesticulate, impeach and vomit joined a litany of audience inputs. From that, a hip-hop musical number is made up on the spot.
Kaila Mullady AKA Kaiser Rözé is the 2015 and 2018 World Beatbox Champion. She is phenomenal throughout and impressively delivers the vocally impossible. Our main storytellers are Utkarsh Ambudkar AKA UTK the INC., Andrew Bancroft AKA Jelly Donut and Aneesa Folds AKA Young Nees. All of them are talented, funny and surprisingly adept at conveying delightfully warm and heartfelt reminiscences.
Mr. Bancroft (or should I say Mr. Donut) is the emcee of this freewheeling (and obviously structured) enterprise and his level of infectiousness is very high. When we move onto “things you hate,” the expected shout outs for Trump and Mitch McConnell are of course hurled at the stage. They were followed by the New England Patriots and guns. Things started to get interesting when flip flops and humidity were added into the mix. Those provided some of the best material (and belly laughs) of the evening.
The spoken performers were joined onstage by musicians Arthur Lewis AKA Arthur the Geniuses and guest artist on keys Ian Weinberger AKA Berger Time. They added to the merriment, riffed with the cast and noticeably celebrated humorous high points. Guests are and will be a regular part of this show. I attended a Monday night performance at 10:00 pm. Lin-Manuel Miranda joined Freestyle Love Supreme at the earlier 7:00 pm show. Lest we feel cheated, Mr. Donut killed in his impersonation and the audience convulsed with laughter.
Our guest that evening was introduced as a relative newbie to the troupe. Ashley Pérez Flanagan AKA Reina Fire was the centerpiece of the finest segment. The Muppets were chosen as the main topic for the things we love portion of the show. The riffing on those puppets were indeed funny but also veered into the intimately nostalgic. Tales of childhood. A show which could appeal to adults as well.
Perhaps that is the essence of Freestyle Love Supreme. A clever wink at our amusing differences and quirks laced with a knowing lampoon of our crazy world. Add in a major dash of quick intellect and a refreshing nod of sentimentality and sweetness.
I enjoyed Freestyle Love Supreme from start to finish. Ticket prices, however, range from $59 to $199. I’m not convinced the upper end of that scale is a reasonable value proposition. The show is only eighty minutes long. If you can snag a reasonably priced seat, however, there is a lot of smiling and good vibes to be had.