When I saw there was a new Louis Armstrong musical with the title A Wonderful World, I had my doubts. Would this just be a feel-good celebration, overlooking the more difficult and problematic aspects of the life of the King of Jazz?
Still, I love Louis Armstrong, so I went, and I'm glad I did. Far from avoiding sensitive topics, the book to the musical, penned lovingly by Aurin Squire, deals head-on with prostitution, drug use, organized crime, and the rampant racism that dogged Armstrong throughout his career.Tony winner James Monroe Iglehart plays Armstrong with grace and charm. I'm not sure if he's angling for another Tony Award with this role, but he would certainly deserve one. The rest of the cast is game, too, as is the orchestra. When I saw the show last night, the band was actually out on the street before the play, entertaining the crowd that waited to come in to their seats.
This is a musical, of course, so there are plenty of songs associated with Armstrong's lengthy and varied career. Cole Porter's "Now You Has Jazz," Duke Ellington's "It Don't Mean a Thing," and Oscar Hammerstein's "A Kiss to Build a Dream On" all make appearances in the show's first act as we watch Armstrong climb to fame. The second act charts his conquests of Hollywood and New York, all while facing down America's demonic racism as well as his own personal demons.
It's in the second act that we hear Irving Berlin's "Cheek to Cheek," Jerry Herman's "Hello Dolly," and of course "What a Wonderful World" by Bob Thiele and George David Weiss. Armstrong was listed as composer on some of the songs he made famous, but in a sense all of these songs are Louis Armstrong's since he was able to bring them to life even if he wasn't the initial composer
The musical is currently playing at Studio 54, and it's well worth seeing if you get a chance.