“Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill”, Lanie Robertson’s 95 minute play with music that burns through Cygnet’s sound system as Karole Foreman becomes Bill Holiday warts and all. Wren T. Brown founder of Ebony Theatre, directs. Ebony Repertory Theatre is a co production with Cygnet.
Set in the small jazz bar, “Emerson’s Bar and Grill” located in South Philly in 1959, a few months before her death, Holiday, nicknamed ‘Lady Day’ by her friend and musical partner Lester Young, is practically carried on to the stage by Jimmy Powers (Damon Carter) her pianist, to perform even though she is visibly not fit for prime time.
Boosted by drugs and drink, low self -esteem and racial discrimination, she pulls herself together. She tugs at her beautiful all white gown (Kimberly DeShazo)and adjusts her long satin gloves, looks around the room, smiles wipes the tears from her face and begins to launch into stories about the men in her life; her lover Joe Guy (he supplied her with the drugs), her mother whom she called “The Duchess” and the unusual treatment she received, as the one black performer with Artie Shaw’s band, who couldn’t eat in the ‘white’ dining room with the rest of the crew, so Shaw paid extra for Billie and the crew to eat in the kitchen.
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| Karole Foreman as Lady Day |
Foreman’s performance is heartbreaking and revealing as she becomes Holliday’s alter ego. Her story unveils the life of a talented artist used by just about everyone in her world, her managers, her mother, her promoters, the men in her life and the failed system that took her dignity, her innocence and her money. She died four months after this performance at age 44.
Most of the dozen or so songs you will hear at ‘Emerson Grill’ will not be her most recognizable: What you will hear: “I Wonder Where Our Love Has Gone”? “Big Foot (And a Bottle of Beer) “Strange Fruit”, “God Bless The Child”, “Somebody’s On My Mind”, “Easy Lovin’”, “Ain’t Nobody’s Business”,” Strange Fruit” and a reprise of “Don’t Explain/What a Little Moonlight Can Do”. (Moonlight is the operative for her booze and drugs)
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| Karole Foreman with Damon Carter |
Scenic design by Edward E. Haynes Jr., Evan Eason, sound design, and Peter Herman’s wigs and makeup all come together to make this one hell of a show.
We must also recognize Musical Director Damon Carter who not only plays a mean piano, but he keeps Ms. Holiday on her feet during her performances.
To say that Billie Holiday had tough breaks from the start of her life would be an understatement. More than anything, the system, which we are all grappling under and still needs fixing, failed her bigtime. We don’t know how many more Billie Holiday’s are out there, but it’s time America closed its collective eye to the color of one's skin.
See you at the theatre.
Enjoy!
When: 7 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays; 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Through Feb. 18
Where: Cygnet Theatre, 4040 Twiggs St., Old Town State Historic Park
Tickets: $39 and up
Photo: Karli Cadel Photography
Phone: (619) 337-1525
Online: cygnettheatre.com
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