A collaboration between the critically acclaimed Wound Up Theatre, director Jonny Kelly, and actor, writer, and rapper Gerel Falconer, Tones: A Hip-Hop Opera tells the story of protagonist Jerome, in his own words through constant rap and music.
A brief prologue introduces us to present-day Jerome, decorating his humble music room in his new studio flat and it quickly sets the tone for the rapping style, music, and the story of ‘drug-addled, rap-battling, lunacy’ that will unfold across the next hour. The audience is then transported back to a London council estate in 1992 where Jerome is a precocious, keenly intelligent 5-year-old with a bright future. His intelligence and enthusiasm mark him as different from his peers so when he meets Henry Hardman, from a well-off, privileged family, Jerome aspires to become the same, even if it means changing his entire persona.
This theme of accepting who you are, rather than trying to be someone you’re not permeates Tones as throughout his formative years Jerome is rejected for being too poor, too posh, or not being black enough. It drives him to rebellion, to prove his blackness by becoming a rapper (rather than pursuing more academic pursuits) and leads to a series of intense rap battles filled with humour, racism, and outright tragedy.
For the most part, Falconer’s rapping is delivered like beat poetry, while the storytelling nature of the lyrics is reminiscent of the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air theme tune.
Falconer’s energy is relentless, delivering an unstoppable flow of words but as an accomplished rapper ensuring his words are easy to follow and understand (albeit occasionally challenging to keep up with). Why can’t we accept ourselves and each other for who we are? Why does the colour of our skin, the way we talk, and the way we act, somehow mean we’re less than? These are familiar questions asked in a fresh, engaging way; a story told with breakneck performance, insightful lyrics, and situations that toe the line between comedy and tragedy. Tones is superbly written, brilliantly performed, and expertly directed.
Keep an eye out for more from Wound Up Theatre and Gerel Falconer in the future.
