Chaka Khan so deserves a musical based on her life, a life of highs and lows, and that show has finally arrived – I’m Every Woman – The Chaka Kahn Musical.
Now playing at the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre, I’m Every Woman – The Chaka Khan Musical, tells her life story – through her hit songs – from the time she was young in a household with fighting parents and her sisters, to the time right before stardom finding her way, and then singing with Rufus, and then finally striking it out on her own where she became more famous and delivered one hit song after another – “I Feel For You,” “Ain’t Nobody” and of course “I’m Every Woman.” And Alexandra Burke perfectly fills the role with her powerhouse voice and looks which are eerily similar to Khans.
Along with Burke, the supporting cast are excellent and sing the roof off the theatre, including Sophie Earl as Joni Mitchell and Miles Anthony Daley as Khan’s second husband Richard Holland (he also plays Prince), while Ashley Stroud is a standout as her sister Taka Boom.
The first half really ramps up her story and we see the slow rise of her career amongst all the drama in her life – including raising two daughters while always on the road – it’s sensational. The second half comes quickly but doesn’t quite live up to the first half. It focuses on her broken relationship with her daughter Milini (Charlotte St. Croix) and bookends the show with her drug addiction struggle (a real downer).
Unfortunately the show missed an opportunity to highlight female empowerment through her songs. Technically speaking everything is perfect (costumes, sets, lighting, choreography by Ebony Clark and direction by Racky Plews).
Yet you walk out still hungry after having eaten a four course meal.
https://www.kxtickets.com/whats-on/i-m-every-woman-the-chaka-khan-musical