‘Ain’t Misbehavin’ at Midtown Productions May Be One of the Best Times You Have in Charleston Theatre This Season

By Mark A. Leon

Midtown Production’s musical revue ‘Ain’t Misbehavin’, directed by local theatre visionary Sheri Grace Wenger is a step back in time to the days of Louis Armstrong and Fats Waller when music was king and Harlem was its castle.  It was the period of the 1920’s through the 40’s when the United States went from the Roaring 20’s to the Great Depression to recovery.  Still, the late-night hours of musical mayhem in upper Manhattan could be heard from blocks away.

With a powerful use of vocals and dance moves, the cast of Tierney Breedlove, Immanuel Houston, Jairus McClanahan, Megan Pue and Monique Waters have brought the composition and lyrics of Fats Waller to life.

Set in the Cotton Club where patrons dress in pin stripe suits and glamorous dresses, the band including Howard Nathan Brown Sr on piano, Brandon Brooks on drums and Arnold Gottlieb on bass play to the wee hours of the morning.

During that time, cocktails are sipped, glances from across the room are shared, and the aura of romance and lust is as thick as butter.  This is the place where jazz remind us of the glamourous life.

The patrons sit around tables with checkered table tops, lit candles in the center and indulging in wine and beer.

Midtown exquisitely creates a live theatre experience which include 31 musical numbers during this two-hour spectacle.  From get out of your chair fun loving numbers of “Jitterbug Waltz” and “Fat and Greasy” to the soothing love soaked “I’ve Got a Feeling I’m Falling” and “Two Sleepy People”, the full spectrum of emotion is shared from stage to audience.

During the performance, the exchanges of intimacy show a fine line between love and sin; lust and intimacy.  Yet, when they danced, the place was rockin’.  From tap to flips, the dance numbers were filled with pure unadulterated energy.

“Ain’t Misbehavin” may be one of the most fun experiences you will have in Charleston area theatre this season.  Whether you bring someone you love or your parents, you are sure to have a remarkable time.  Musical theatre is alive and well and Midtown Productions has brought a winner.

There are still four more performances during this run (March 2 – 5).  You can purchase tickets at Click Here for Ticket Information