An electrifying and inventive blast of hip-hop storytelling, despite the slightly obvious plot
FRAY is a story of two brothers learning how to navigate reality as they grow up. Using the world of video games as a language to explore what it means to battle monsters and head out on your own Hero’s journey, this energised show fusing hip-hop dance, music and moving visuals aims to teach us that all we ever needed was inside us all along. It’s an electric production, but we know the ending already.
The show follows two brothers, Tullio and Ziya—fully embodied by Elijah Smith and Jamai Robinson who have immense chemistry—as they leave home and both find their passions: dance and video games. As Ziya is led down a bad path by dark forces, Tullio struggles with the idea that, unlike in their precious video games, you can’t control real life.
The dancing is next level and, on its own, would merit a full five stars. These are clearly world class dancers with world class choreographers who succeed in maintaining the storytelling throughout. It’s almost impossible to get through a scene without bopping along or whooping the performers (behaviours encouraged by a stirring introduction from MC Fusion) and there’s no doubting the power of seeing such impressive, physical, full-bodied sequences. I must say I found it particularly moving to see two strong black men exhibiting both such strength and such sensitivity in their dancing: a trait shared by the rest of the cast who never drop below 100% commitment to their work. You can see the sweat.
The story is well told, the movement well directed, and the narration and visuals are considered and moving. The issue, however, is that this story has been done before. Which isn’t to say that it’s not one worth telling again, especially in a form designed to reach a different audience, but simply that the powerhouse dancing can only distract so much from a predictable storyline. It feels like a show designed at its heart to reach school audiences; there’s a real push for connecting with them on TikTok and, like their protagonists, they’ve even made a downloadable game. However, this desired demographic is never explicitly stated, and, as a result, it’s almost as if the production leaves something on the table.
Ultimately, it’s inspiring to see such a contemporary work celebrating hip-hop culture tread the boards in Wilton’s Music Hall, and it’s certainly true to say the diverse crowd of all ages were electrified by its energy. As we were leaving, an older lady in front of me lit up: “I’ve never seen anything like it – it was astounding!” CandyBomber Productions and Sisco Gomez, with Creative Director Kate Duhamel, have something special on their hands and, with the right audience, this show will fly.