"Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill" at the Circle in the Square

 

Audra McDonald

(photo by Evgenia Eliseeva)

"Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill" at the Circle in the Square

The Billie Holiday that multi award-winning Audra McDonald brings us is the tragic singer at the end of the line. The place is Emerson's Bar & Grill in Philadelphia at midnight on a Friday in March 1959 four months before Holiday's death. "They won't let me sing in New York" announces the proud but defeated singer. But, it is the triumph of Holiday's incomparable talent and persona that becomes apparent as McDonald uses the jazz rhythms, the penetrating lyrics and the evocative milieu to tell Holiday's story.

Certainly the large space that has been impressively created within the Circle in the Square Theatre is far from being an intimate bar & grill as the numerous cocktail tables and chairs on the ground level of the theater are able to accommodate patrons who may order drinks and/ or champagne etc. Notwithstanding the classier environment designed by James Noone, McDonald's performance, under the attentive direction of Lonny Price, is one that puts everything into perspective.

Up front and out there is Holiday's pain, rage and the indomitable of a woman who only wanted to keep on singing. Not holding back, McDonald's performance is all about Holiday's brave defiance, justifiable  arrogance, and the unavoidable suffering that would help make her a legend. She brings all those qualities, call it baggage, into the songs and it is quite an accomplishment. Not even Holiday could play Philadelphia without a few jokes. "I've been arrested all over the country, but Philly's the only place that's made me a candidate for federal housing."

McDonald makes us feel close to Holiday rather than to her ghost. And it's amazing how this singer with a glorious operatic voice  has been able to alter and adjust her tone and timbre. A rich drama unfolds in songs such as "When a Woman Loves A Man," "Them There Eyes," "God Bless the Child," "Livin' for You," and the others.

There is a bit of controversy over whether "Lady Day" is a musical or a play with music. I really don't care what the final vote proclaims, but Lanie Robertson's text (heard for the first by me Off Broadway in 1986 with Lonette McKee, as Holiday) surrounding the songs has a dramatic structure that allows us, through the device of a monologue, to gain some insight into Holiday's life, her childhood, and her debilitating marriage.

But there is lots of trenchant humor surrounding the songs, especially shocking but true is a long anecdote about the tour with the Artie Shaw Band. McDonald, who looks smashing in two gowns designed by Esosa, gets splendid backup by a terrific jazz band under the direction of Shelton Becton, playing long-time Holiday accompanist Jimmy Powers. A small role is played by Roxy, a very cute stray turned pro known in the play as Pepi, who doesn't seem to care that he steals his scene paws down. 

"Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill" (through August 10 2014)

For tickets ($97.00 - $250.00) call 239 - 6200