Wednesday 28 June, 7:45
Seat: Royal Circle, E15
Seen with Joel!
Notes: My second play! Definitely a play, despite having about a dozen songs. Also, it was 90 minutes without an interval.
It's set about 4 months before Billie Holiday's death, and is essentially her performing a set at a small bar in south Philadelphia. The set is designed as a small stage, with onstage bar-esque tables filled with theatre patrons! The front rows also seemed to be tables instead, very cool atmosphere.
Lady Day does her show, singing done songs (and some fragments of songs) with just a piano, bass and drums to back her up. However, she is clearly very drunk, and while get stories are interesting, the way she acts is sad, in a way. She's clearly a big star at the end of her career. There were definitely funny moments, but also very sad ones and just as many hauntingly beautiful moments and lines. It's beautifully written.
And Audra McDonald. Wow. She really is Billie Holiday. She made a great drunk (while being completely sober, of course!), but her Billie is perfect. She sounds do like her! I actually don't think I really have the words to express how fantastic she is.
After the show, Joel and I went to the stage door. Many fewer people than for Don Juan in Soho! After just a short while, Audra came out. She was the kindest, loveliest person ever. She thanked all of us for coming (and for the nice things we said) and took time for signing and photos for all.
Talk about a theatre high!
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