It gives no pleasure to be forced to cast a dark cloud of critical gloom over something as wonderfully monikered as the Cultural Sunshine Project.
Supported by the Jamaican government "to counter the negative image of Jamaica in the UK", this musical, performed by the 17-strong Ashe Ensemble from Kingston, is a baggy mess of a piece that is just crying out for a firm editorial hand to knock it into some kind of shape.
The ideas it thumps out can be neatly divided into two categories: good and bad. Thus we have Jamaicans esteeming all things British: bad! Jamaicans finding a sense of self worth: good!
Such a reductive take is deeply depressing, not least because a staggering seven people worked on the script in various capacities. Could they really not find anything more insightful to say about their beautiful island?
Ricardo A Nicholas's production is at least blessed with a cast who burst with vitality, rather like "the shining bright sun, the symbol of hope", about which they are unfortunately forced to sing. Given the right material, many of them would soar, but as it is they are trapped in the extremely improbable story - which only emerges late in the day - of Vivienne, a girl from the ghetto, who joins forces with posh shop-owner Monica to become a dress designer.
The lighting, sound and miking of the actors are all more than somewhat haphazard, making it hard to decipher many of the lyrics. Nevertheless, the one song that comes across loud and clear is a veritable Whitney Houston-type show-stopper: "I've taken back my power," belts out Vivienne as she ditches her violent boyfriend. You go, girl.
Goodness only knows what the team behind this imagine it will do for Jamaica's international profile. A half-hour film of perfect beaches with a soundtrack by Bob Marley would have had the same level of complexity, and may well have proved a wiser investment.
Until 30 January. Box office: 020 8985 2424.
Jamaica, The Musical
