SIMPLY HEAVENLY

Jason appeared in Simply Heavenly by Langston Hughes and David Martin at the Young Vic from 7th March through to Saturday 19th April 2003.

A Direct Action co production with The NT studio. The Young Vic goes to the soul of Harlem blues with Langston Hughes’s musical comedy Simply Heavenly.

Written in 1957, Simply Heavenly was born out of a series of short stories featuring Jess B Semple’s bar room philosophy on life, love and the pursuit of the easy way.

An offbeat Harlem everyman living in a rapidly changing America, Simple became Hughes’s most enduring character expressing the everyday victories of an ordinary hero.

Simply Heavenly first ran on Broadway in 1957, giving a voice through humour and song to the African American experience. With gentle satire, insightful ramblings and street-wise humour Hughes chronicled the hopes and despair of black America.

Jason appeared alongside some of the country’s leading voices in musical theatre with

Olivier Award-winning actor Clive Rowe
Soul Diva Ruby Turner,
Rhashan Stone,
Des Coleman,
Nicola Hughes,
Melanie Marshall,
Cat Simmons
Dale Superville.

Josette Bushell-Mingo directed this rare musical gem in a co-production with the National Theatre Studio.

REVIEWS

"Highpoint comes when Clive Rowe joins forces with Ruby Turner...but that is closely followed by a whirling tap dance by Jason Pennycooke who twirls chairs and leaps on bars with fantastic agility." - Michael Billington The Guardian

"This bewitching gospel and blues musical seduces you almost at first sight and sound. For Simply Heavenly is a musical that engages heart, mind and feet in one dramatic swoop. A real hit musical." - Nicholas de Jongh, Evening Standard

"Simply Heavenly is a terrific show that sends you out into the night floating euphorically on cloud nine. This is that rare thing, a feelggod musical that doesn't insult it's audience's intelligence. It leaves you feeling blessed as well as elated and a West End transfer must surely beckon." - Charles Spencer, Daily Telegraph

"Performed with immense brio and vitality by a fabulous cast (including)...the twinkletoed Jason Pennycooke as the frustrated dancer." - Sarah Hemming FT

"An evening of pure joy which more than lives up to it's title. In fact, I'd go so far as to say it's as good an evening of foot-stomping, toe-tapping, good time entertainment as you're liable to find anywhere in London." - Maxwell Cooter What's on Stage

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