I’m Every Woman: The Chaka Khan Musical (review)

It was a packed house on a balmy Friday evening at the Troubadour Theatre Wembley Park where I’m Every Woman: The Chaka Khan musical was about to begin. We’d made a quick dash to the ladies’ and thankfully slipped in just before the curtains went up and the familiar strains of “I’m Every Woman” filled the air. But it was a more muted version than you’d imagine, setting the tone for the drama’s first scene.

A group of women sat in a semi-circle, women who we would come to know as the central pillars of Chaka’s wild, incredible life. The therapist encouraged Chaka, a recovering addict, to unlock the pain she’d kept inside for decades. To get to the root of her struggles, we had to go back in time.

The musical takes us on a rollercoaster journey starting with Chaka’s troubled childhood. We see her father using heroin, while her mother seeks refuge in the church. Their daughter Yvette (Chaka’s birth name) looks outside for freedom and finds it in the Black Power movement. We learn how she earned her powerful name Chaka (meaning “woman of fire”) through an Afrocentric naming ceremony.

I’d heard about Chaka’s substance abuse and her reputation as something of a wild child, even for the free love era. However, there was so much I didn’t know: for instance, that she and her first husband were members of the Black Panther Party. She was actually present when leader Fred Hampton was killed by police. I was also stunned to see Chaka shooting at her second husband with a rifle after another of their domestic disputes!

What a woman, what a story, I kept thinking. Yet my overall criticism about this production is that it doesn’t quite live up to the legend. The script is clunky in places and considering some of the themes it’s covering (drug abuse, racism, sexism, domestic violence), it feels a bit lightweight. Fortunately, things pick up in the second half and the ending packs an emotional punch.

The visuals are vibrant and well put together, from the period costumes to the innovative set design. Also, despite the script’s limitations, you can’t fault the cast who pour their hearts, souls (and booty) into their performances. The live band is awesome and the singing is outstanding, honestly each of the soloists gave me goosebumps.

I was mesmerised by Sophie Earl who plays Joni Mitchell (a close friend of Chaka’s) and sings the roof off of Joni’s songs. Charlotte St Croix as Malini, Chaka’s estranged daughter, expresses her pain with emotional texture and a catch in her throat that breaks your heart. Ashley Stroud as sister Taka has such verve and vocal fire that it’s made me want to look up the real Taka’s back catalogue. I didn’t know Chaka’s entire family was so musical!

Special mention goes to Miles Anthony Daley who plays Richard Holland (Chaka’s 2nd husband ) with swagger. He also performs a comical and preposterous turn as Prince, one of Chaka’s musical soul mates. He had the audience rolling as he camped up Prince’s eccentricities. If they make a Prince musical one day, cue this guy up. Not for the silliness but because this brother can sing.

I also enjoyed Chrissie Bhima as Chaka’s wayward friend who drags her off the rails, whispers bad things in her ear, and finally reveals her true face in a show-stopping performance of the title song.

Of course everything revolves around Alexandra Burke, the singer who made her debut on X-Factor and whose star has continued to shine ever since. Alexandra Burke is no Chaka Khan, but she is most definitely Alexandra Burke. If you’ve ever doubted her talent, this show will make you put some respect on her name. From the highest highs of “Ain’t Nobody” to the heartfelt “Through the Fire”, Alexandra carries the tunes and the lead role with power and vulnerability. 

The show closed with a post-ovation song and dance that had everybody on their feet, giving us a chance to belt out the numbers we’d been waiting for. Chaka Khan gave us hit after hit and as I watched everyone from young Black women to elderly White men clapping and singing along to “I’m Every Woman”, I marvelled again at the magic of music to unite us.

I’ve mentioned my criticism of the production but if you ask me how I felt at the finale, that feeling was collective effervescence (aka communal joy). It’s a musical much like Chaka’s journey: wobbly in patches, rough around the edges, yet bursting with talent and sister power. Grab your girlfriends, take your favourite Chaka fan, and catch it before it leaves town!

I’m Every Woman: The Chaka Khan Musical is playing at Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre, 3 Fulton Road, Wembley Park, HA9 0SP (Wembley Park tube/Wembley Stadium rail). Ages 14+ (PG for mature themes and content). 7.30pm (Wed-Sat), 2.30pm (Thu & Sat), 3.30pm (Sun); £15-£115 (until Sep 27)

**press review