Read Plogger Amy Leon's review and Christa Tandana's dramaturgy on Fela!
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Kevin Mambo, one of the actors playing Fela, took a moment to talk with Amy about his role.

Amy: What is your favorite part of being in Fela!?

KEVIN: Being able to mix acting and music together in a really unique way.

Amy: What have you learned from being in Fela!?

KEVIN: First, it’s the kind of stamina you have to have as a performer in order to execute a show like this, much less do four, five, six, seven hour concerts, which in some points of Fela’s career, he did. Being able to interact with the audience as part of the show has been a lot of fun and something to learn.

Amy: How does the audience affect your performance?

KEVIN: I think they’re there for the whole ride. There are certain points where I do talk directly to the audience or have audience participation, but as with most concert situations, the audience is there to be with you. In the theatre, the audience is there to participate, but more to view. This show is fun in terms of where the lines blur. The show is scripted, but there are moments that change from night to night depending on the reaction of the audience. That freshness is what keeps the show the most fun.

                                                [Photo credit: Monique Carboni]

Amy: How does it feel to portray a character who actually existed?

KEVIN: It’s great because there’s a wealth of research in terms of who he is and his music, but there comes a point as an actor where you have to try to really find a way to capture the spirit of that person. Fela had a huge personality, so it’s a process of constantly discovering something new.

Amy: How has connecting with Fela’s culture affected your own relationship with your Zimbabwean culture?

KEVIN: We have our own musicians who supported the guerillas in Zimbabwe’s struggle for independence, so in my culture, we have figures that are very similar. What’s interesting in terms of Fela is that he was a real pan-Africanist in terms of his sound. His sound was very hybridized and I think that really put him ahead of his time. It’s why we still listen to his music today.

Amy: What advice do you have for young actors?

KEVIN: It is as serious a discipline as any other. In order to really get the most out of it, you should work hard at it and treat it with respect.

Read Plogger Chris Ramirez interview with Jon Michael Hill (Franco) about his role in Superior Donuts and what it’s like to be an actor.