Bob Marley’s Three Little Birds

One Love, One Heart

Bob Marley was one of Jamaica’s most talented and famous singer/songwriters. Of his many much loved songs, “Three Little Birds” is his most popular hit. It’s a cheery and optimistic reggae tune that’s familiar to almost everyone. The song is about three tiny feathered fowl who sit on the vocalist’s windowsill, singing brightly to lift his spirits. The song is often mistakenly thought to be titled “Don’t worry about a thing” or “Every little thing is gonna be alright,” because that refrain is heard so often. 

Based upon the children’s picture book entitled Every Little Thing, written by the singer’s daughter, Cedella Marley, this joyful new musical for kids and families has emerged. It’s been adapted for the musical stage by playwright Michael J. Bobbitt. In addition to the bright, optimistic songs by Bob Marley himself, the show is fleshed out with additional music and lyrics by John L Cornelius II. 

This uplifting musical tells the story of a Jamaican youngster named Ziggy, played with juvenile joy and innocence by Blake Dupree. The little boy is fearful of so many things that he’s afraid to leave his house. Living on a tropical island, the child is understandably afraid of hurricanes and tsunamis, so much so that Ziggy stays indoors all day watching TV. He’s always on the lookout for weather forecasts of a tropical storm arriving. Naturally, his mother Cedella (beautifully interpreted by the always terrific Sonia Goldberg), worries about her son. She wants him to be brave and go outdoors to play, enjoy the sunshine and make some friends. 

But the little boy’s also terribly afraid of hairy spiders, the deep ocean and the ghostly Duppy (played by a not-so-scary Bryan Nicholas Carter). Ziggy believes that the eerie Jamaican ghost wants his beautifully plaited hair. So Ziggy’s three avian friends, led by the bespectacled Doctor Bird, and winningly portrayed by Winter Olamina comes to cheer him up. Tacoomah, played with unbridled birdie joy by Micah Mixon, joins them, along with Ms. Goldberg as another fine feathered friend. Together they set off on a Blue Mountain adventure. Ziggy’s trickster friend Nansi (played with spider-loving glee by lovely Brynne London) also shows up to tease and taunt the boy with her affection.

This uplifting, optimistic musical features several of Bob Marley’s most popular reggae songs. In addition to “Three Little Birds,” the show includes more infectious tunes like “Jamming,” “Stir It Up,” “One Love” and many others that all sport a catchy Jamaican beat.

The production is brightly co-directed by the company’s Artistic Director Randy White and Choreographer Tuesdai B. Perry. Musically Directed by Cameron Tragesser, the production is set on a clever and colorful Scenic Design by Lauren Helpern, and brilliantly Lighted by Kevin Rechner. Providing the cast with an authentic Caribbean look, Janelle Smith’s Costume Designs are especially vibrant and splashy. In particular, Nansi’s tie-dyed teeshirt features a creative arachnid-like design, inspired by her character, Anansi the Spider.

This delightfully cheerful Caribbean cartoon of a musical is as bright and bodacious as Jamaican itself. Filled with all the joy and happiness of Bob Marley’s contagious music, THREE LITTLE BIRDS is a fun, 60-minute family musical that takes wing and seems to swiftly fly by. Both children and their parents will eagerly join in all the fun, and will soon forget that Winter’s cold chill is just outside the theater.      

Highly Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas

Presented February 8-March 2 by Young People’s Theatre of Chicago, at the Greenhouse Theatre Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago.

Tickets are available at the box office, by calling 773-404-7336 or by going to www.yptchi.org.

Additional information about this and other area productions can be found by visiting www.theatreinchicago.com.