Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill REVIEW 28 Nov 2023

THEATRE / MUSICAL

Written by Lanie Robertson

At Fairfax Studio, Arts Centre Melbourne extended until 9 Dec 2023

Reviewer: Kate Herbert

Stars: ***** (5)

This review is published only on this blog. I’ll present a radio review on Arts Weekly on 3MBS on Sat 9 Dec 2023. Apologies that I'll review it on air after close of season. KH

Zahra Newman -Lady Day_pic by Matt_Byrne

Zahra Newman totally inhabits the heart, body and spirit of Billie Holiday, known as Lady Day, in her inspired and poignant performance of Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill.

 

Accompanied by a tight, gifted and very cool jazz trio (Kym Purling on piano, Dan Witton on upright bass, Edward York on drums), Newman, wearing a gleaming, white satin gown, addresses us as if we were a devoted audience at Emerson’s in Philadelphia, a bar that she knows so well from her chequered past. Lady is supported – in all meanings of the word – on stage by Jimmy, her pianist, show-host and sublimely patient, current beau, who encourages and prompts her whenever the need arises – which is often by the end of the evening.

 

Newman is a gifted jazz singer in her own right, but she also captures impeccably the bluesy-jazz stylings of Holiday’s singing, and the drawling, slightly slurred tones of her speech as she becomes progressively more intoxicated, to the point where she can barely stand. The voice and dialect coaching by Geraldine Cook-Dafner must be commended.

 

Zahra Newman -Lady Day_pic by Matt_Byrne

The live music, and Newman’s vocal renditions of Holiday’s exceptional repertoire of songs, are thrilling and musical arrangements by Danny Holgate are captivating.

 

But it is profoundly painful to witness this great talent, Holiday, disintegrating before our eyes, as she re-tells and re-lives dramatic, tragic and painful episodes from her past, including her appalling choice of partner, her heroin addiction, and the imprisonment that ended her career.

 

The song list includes some full tunes and many snatches of Holiday’s popular melodies, including her most famous and most requested songs, God Bless the Child, and Strange Fruit.

 

Mitchell Butel’s direction is discreet and unobtrusive, focusing the eye and the ear on Newman and allowing the audience to experience the immediacy of Newman’s performance as Holiday’s story unfolds and her character unravels.

 

Lanie Robertson’s script draws on Holiday’s lived experiences, illuminating the woman and her life and trials, but never slipping into exposition.

 

This is an exceptional night at the theatre and Newman’s charismatic performance must be seen. Forget the Chrissie shopping! Rush out now!

 

by Kate Herbert

 

CAST

Billie Holiday Zahra Newman
Alternate Billie Holiday Elenoa Rokobaro
Jimmy Powers Kym Purling

 

BAND

Upright Bass Dan Witton
Drums Edward York

 

CREATIVE TEAM

Director Mitchell Butel
Associate Director Zahra Newman
Musical Arrangements Danny Holgate

Musical Director & Additional Arrangements Kym Purling
Set & Costume Designer Ailsa Paterson
Lighting Designer Govin Ruben
Sound Designer Andrew Howard
Voice & Dialogue Coach Geraldine Cook-Dafner
Voice & Dialogue Coach Jennifer Innes

Stage Manager Bridget Samuel
Assistant Stage Manager Sean Proude
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