What I liked
The live band’s position on stage gave the story an intimate and unique ingredient that feels similar to stumbling upon a hole in the wall to escape into a musical wonderland, which I crave outside of the theater world. To see a band play an essential role in building the story felt like a very lovely flavor added to the feast that Silhouettes of Scarlet: A Hip-Hop Musical fed to the audience.
What I didn't like
At times, the live band’s volume felt overpowering when dialogue between characters unfolded on stage, so if there’s a way perhaps less instruments could be used, or a lower volume could be achieved while the character are speaking, I think it would help the audience’s energy be less strained while trying to decipher what was going on between the characters as the music played. Perhaps a call and response approach could be implemented so that characters can deliver lines, and then the band can add a musical punctuation mark, and the pattern can continue.
If there could be a mic attached to the costume of the protagonist’s object of desire so that she isn’t holding the device, I think it would help make the character’s presence and message more . . . something. For some reason, seeing the character hold the mic through song and dialogue took me out of the story. At the same time, her character’s unsettling decisions and later entrances sparked quite lively reactions from the audience, so maybe holding the mic was meant to heighten the feeling of “Here we go again with this person” when the character enters.
My overall impression
Silhouettes of Scarlet: A Hip-Hop Musical delivered a beautiful portrayal of the emotional roller coaster ride while navigating the best steps we can take on a journey toward understanding how to protect our hearts. From memorable musicalities, wonderful choreography, sinuous silhouettes, seamless transitions between scenes, and the marvelous talent that graced the stage, this was truly a gift to experience in the Hollywood Fringe Festival of 2024.
