What an amazing show that is Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill presented by Philadelphia Theatre Company. It is a must see. It’s raw, witty, eye-opening, as well as historic. Laurin Talese’s talent doesn’t go unnoticed as she transforms herself into Billie Holiday. Her voice is hands down pure, and rhythmic. You aren’t simply entertained, you are taken on the journey to learn, see, and take in the sounds and life of Billie Holiday.
Before you Go to Suzanne Roberts Theatre
This show is immersive. I would highly suggest that you arrive at least one hour before the start of the show. I got to the show at almost 40 minutes early and the line to the bar was long. The show takes you back to Billie Holiday’s last performance. Philadelphia Theatre Company transforms their actual backstage into Emerson’s Bar & Grill. I was shocked at how they pulled it off. This show isn’t done like any other showing I have seen at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre. The drinks are delicious and are themed as well as sodas, beer, and wine available for purchase. You will feel like you are seated back in time and the bar adds the element that is necessary to pull this performance off.
Laurin Talese
Laurin is an amazing Jazz singer. I had to do my research on her career after this performance. Her voice was so on point that if you closed your eyes you really would have thought she was the real Billie Holiday. The uncomfortableness that is “Strange Fruit.” The song has to be one of the most riveting of Billie Holiday’s songs. The song that she is the most well known for and the most controversial. As I listened to the words as I have before it describes the lynching of Black people in the South. As I listened during this performance I paid attention to the older Black women in the audience. Their faces were mellow and solemn as mine.
There were some in the audience that focused more on how well Billie Holiday (Laurin Talese) sounded. It boggles my mind how this song was the most popular to be sung in clubs. The song is sad and enriched with the history of the pain and suffering of Black people. Just like now, the songs that evoke emotion or the struggles of others seem to resonate the most. Laurin showcased the mixed emotions that Billie Holiday would have felt as shes prodded to sing this song time and time again. Laurin’s voice is the pure personification of the sound of Billie Holiday. It was an honor being in her presence.
Historical Relevance to Billie Holiday’s Troubled World
We see Lady Day start off her performance with a drink. Drinking and drugs is the very demise of this young talent. I loved how they showed her childhood struggles and relationship breakdowns. One of the things that anyone knows that if you are a singer not protecting your voice is one of the quickest way to lose the ability to sing well. Billie Holiday was struggling to own what she had become to the life that she wanted. Laurin hit every emotion hard. It took what we knew of the talent straight from the books to stage in a way that made me appreciate the artist as a person.
The Production Team at Philadelphia Theatre
This story wouldn’t be what it was without two things: Laurin Talese and the production team getting so many of the details right. As soon as you walk in you knew you were in a club. The seating, the bar, the high and low tables, it all were precisely done and done well. In addition I paid attention to the use of lights including colors to evoke different emotions. The best part that really had me was when Lady Day discussed her childhood and her father dying, having the sound of a child playing to represent the childhood she never had was genius.
This production was done well. The attention to detail didn’t go unnoticed. The transformation of the back stage of the theatre made so much sense. As I walked back to the stage, the staff informed me of the key elements to pay attention to when it comes to seating. The best seats are going to be in Zone A or Zone B. Be sure to get those seating as that gives you the most up-close look. Also if you are seated at the bar you will have Lady Day possibly come in your direction. Thank you to not only the Philadelphia Theatre Company for having me but as well as Aversa PR for making the arrangements. Do not miss this performance. The production is an experience not just a sit and watch show. Tickets are available and it’s in production until April 30th. Some performances require masks while others are optional.
