Currently running at the Public’s Newman Theater, “The Harder They Come” is based on the 1972 film by the same name produced and directed by Perry Henzell and co-written with Trevor Rhone. The first paragraph of David Katz’s guest essay added to the Library of Congress National Registry in 2020 summarizes the film perfectly.

“The Harder They Come” is a landmark of Caribbean cinema. The first full-length feature film shot in Jamaica by a Jamaican director with a fully Jamaican cast, it centers on a plot based on the lives of ordinary Jamaicans, making it unlike anything to come before. Through Jimmy Cliff’s sympathetic portrayal of Ivan, a determined character whose pride will not allow him to be beaten down but whose desperation leads to an inevitably swift and gory demise, filmmaker Perry Henzell illuminates the widespread social injustice commonplace in the developing world.”

With a book by Suzan-Lori Parks, directed by Tony Taccone, and co-Directed by Sergio Trujillo, the new musical successfully lands on the Public’s Newman stage with the same grittiness and guts evident in Henzell’s groundbreaking movie. Ivan’s (a determined but somewhat naïve Natey Jones) determination to record a hit record in Kingston, Jamaica against all the odds reverberates with authenticity and pathos as the character battles religious hypocrisy, police corruption, and governmental/institutional corruption.

Both the screenplay and Suzan-Lori Parks book draw haunting distinctions between the ethos of the Preacher (a hypocritical and pernicious J. Bernard Calloway) and the ethos of the Judeo-Christian tradition; between the ethos of the Kingston police and “top cop” Ray (a shifty and self-possessed Dudney Joseph, Jr.) and the ethos of traditional law enforcement; between ethos of music producer Hilton (a hateful and prevaricating Ken Robinson) and legitimate record producing companies. All Ivan wants is to realize the dream behind his mantra: “You Can Get It If You Really Want.” However, what he discovers during his brief time in Kingston is that the path to success is a “Hard Road to Travel” with “Many Rivers to Cross.”

Margaret Meade believed that when society’s established institutions fail their followers/constituents, they head “underground” for answers and support. Jamaica’s established institutions fail/shun Ivan, including his marriage to Elsa (Meecah) and his mother Daisy (Jeannette Bayardelle). Hoping “Better Days Will Come,” Ivan decides to join his best friend Pedro (an amiable and authentic Jacob Ming-Trent) in Jose’s (a conniving yet desperate Dominique Johnson) in his “Fishing Business” (an interesting euphemism for Kingston’s local ganga trade).

That choice leads to a sad but anticipated falling action and conclusion of “The Harder They Come.” Jimmy Cliff’s songs, the indelible spirit of Perry Henzell’s film, Suzan-Lori Parks’ strong book, Tony Taccone’s firm direction, and the impressive work of the creative team all combine to make this new musical a Best Bet for Theatre Reviews Limited. That said, this critic would have hoped for a stronger second act that more closely matched the strong performances of Natey Jones (Ivan) and his fellow cast members.