Tones – A Hip Hop Opera by Gerel Falconer – review

“An extremely intelligent and entertaining piece of work, this is a must-see”

Brixton House
Review by: Nicole V Sylvester
afridiziak ratings
Published: Thursday 07 November 2024, 10:30am

Tones – A Hip-Hop Opera Brixton House Production Photos-0058 (c) Ikin Yum
Tones – A Hip-Hop Opera Brixton House Production Photos-0058 (c) Ikin Yum

I’ve never been fully invested in a show after the first three minutes, but that’s exactly what happened with Tones.  It’s touted as a Hip-Hop opera, and if opera is not your bag (as its not mine) you needn’t worry -there’s no operatic warbling …but like an opera, there is plenty of recitative drama, rich expression, and brilliant, emotional story telling.

Gerel Falconer writes and stars alone in this production, that sneaks a peek into the life story of Jerome -AKA The Professor, and is told entirely through rap.  We meet Jerome as a young child, stuck like glue to his posh best friend Henry and follow him all the way to drug experimentation and sexual experiences at university.

Tones – A Hip-Hop Opera Brixton House Production Photos-0022 (c) Ikin Yum
Tones – A Hip-Hop Opera Brixton House Production Photos-0022 (c) Ikin Yum

Through Falconer’s skill, we are introduced to his family and friends by a clever, seamless, lyrical monologue. We feel his school days, rap battles and feelings and its amazing.  Carrying a solo show is a huge task and Falconer somehow manages to keep us engaged and on the edge of our seats the whole way through. It’s a bit of a rollercoaster in the sense that you’ll find yourself laughing one minute and feeling sad the next.

Staged against a background of UK hip-hop and Grime composed by 3D Williams, You are right there with Jerome as he navigates class and colourism, in North West London; realising how ‘tones’ of skin and ‘tones’ of voice played huge roles in his life experience. An extremely intelligent and entertaining piece of work, this is a must-see. It’s a short run people, so grab yourself a ticket quickly cos you’ll kick yourself if you miss this one, it’s a good ‘un.

Need to know: Tones by Gerel Falconer plays at Brixton House until 9 Nov 2024 | See listing | access £10 tickets using TONESAFR for the Sat 9 Nov, 2.45p performance


REVIEW OVERVIEW
five
tones-a-hip-hop-opera-by-gerel-falconer-brixton-houseI’ve never been fully invested in a show after the first three minutes, but that’s exactly what happened with Tones.  It’s touted as a Hip-Hop opera, and if opera is not your bag (as its not mine) you needn’t worry -there’s no operatic warbling...