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Review Round-up: Critics Feel Good in the Hoods

A hit for the past two summers at the Edinburgh Fringe, Into the Hoods had its press performance on 26 March (previews from 14 March) at the Novello Theatre, where it’s currently booking until 10 May (See News, 8 Feb 2008). Owner of the Novello, Cameron Mackintosh, has declared the theatre’s new resident to be “the most exuberant, imaginative and original dance musical since Cats”. But will it have nine lives lasting 21 years in the West End?

A hip-hop version of Sondheim’s Into the Woods, Into the Hoods follows two children lost in the ‘hood’. A mysterious landlord befriends the children and sets them off on a mission that leads them to the flats of the Ruff Endz Estate, where they discover gold Adidas trainers; Lil Red, the owner of the bright red hoodie; Rap-on-Zel, the owner of the finest quality long weave (hair extensions) in the city, and Jaxx (who lives in the basement), the owner of a white I-pod.

The show is directed and choreographed by Kate Prince and performed by a cast of 19 adults and nine children (three on stage). The company, ZooNation, employs its trademark narrative street dance/theatre style against a backdrop of music from Gorillaz, Massive Attack, Prince, Basement Jaxx, Stevie Wonder, Kanye West, Jay-Z, Janet Jackson, James Brown, Snoop Dogg, Dr Dre, Black Eyed Peas, Bob Marley, the Chemical Brothers and others. It’s produced by Phil McIntyre and Adam Speers.

This “modern-day dance extravaganza” has sent the critics dancing down the aisles. The “bright-eyed and bushy-tailed appeal” of a production that sends a “feelgood vibe bursting from the stage” had everyone in agreement “that narrative hip-hop dance theatre has a place in the West End”. Kate Prince's “ambitious” and “big-hearted production” was unanimously praised for its “slick, poppy, synchronised street dance” although the storyline was felt to be “a little choppy”. Overall, the show promises a “good fun” night and a “unique theatre experience” through its “innovative” combination of dance, drama and narrative.

Matilda Egere-Cooper in the Independent (five stars) - “As with any good hip-hop show, the premise for success is really quite simple: the moves, whether taken from B-boy, old-school or modern influences, must pop with precision. Dancers should flow together in a faithful alliance and, as long as flashes of awesome choreography keep the audience enchanted, everybody wins. In this case, Into the Hoods is not only victorious, but Kate Prince's ambitious production sets a precedent in convincing even the most cynical that hip-hop theatre deserves a West End run. Taking the best bits of the Stephen Sondheim musical Into the Woods, it turns the classic into a contemporary and energetic comedy-drama with relative ease, helped by clever visuals and a cut-and-paste soundtrack of R&B, hip-hop and other urban favourites that features everyone from Chaka Khan to Dizzee Rascal.”

- by Melissa Rynn & Kate Jackson

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