Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill
Friday, April 2 - Saturday, April 10
By Scott Renshaw @scottrenshaw
The Black Box Theater at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center has too often felt cavernous during small-scale productions. In Pygmalion Theatre Company’s production of Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill, it becomes one of the most amazingly intimate venues imaginable.
The tiered rows of seats pushed back and replaced by cabaret tables, the space is transformed into a jazz club in 1959 South Philadelphia, where legendary vocalist Billie Holiday (Dee-Dee Darby-Duffin) is about to deliver what will turn out to be one of her last performances. At first reluctant to take the stage at all, the substance- and life-damaged Billie finally emerges and eventually warms up to a casual conversation with the audience, between songs, about her life.
The musical numbers are remarkable enough. Darby-Duffin doesn’t attempt an imitation of Holiday’s unique vocal cadences as much as she interprets the singer through her own voice, resulting in powerfully distinctive renditions of songs like “God Bless the Child,” “Don’t Explain” and “Strange Fruit.”
But the real charge in Darby-Duffin’s terrific performance comes in her rapport with the audience. She strolls past the tables, her delivery utterly natural and conversational as she reminisces about the events that brought her to this place. And while playwright Lanie Robertson’s text isn’t rich with narrative content, it provides an effective portrait of the forces—particularly racism—that shaped the tragic legend. Teresa Sanderson’s strong direction contributes to a piece of theater that’s not simply a show, it’s an experience.
Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill @ Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center Black Box Theater, 138 W. 300 South, 801-355-ARTS, through April 10. PygmalionProductions.org
Speaking of The Essentials
-
Brandon Mull: Beyonders
Thursday April 14 @ The King’s English Bookshop
- Apr 14, 2011
-
The Perfect Fit
Through April 3 @ Kimball Art Center
- Mar 31, 2011
-
Utah St. Patrick's Day Celebrations
On Saturday, March 12, the Hibernian Society of Utah's traditional Salt Lake City downtown St. Patrick's Day parade winds through the Gateway from 400 West and 200 North beginning at 10 a.m. ...
- Mar 11, 2011
- More »
More by Scott Renshaw
-
Film Reviews: New Releases for May 9
Fight or Flight, Juliet & Romeo, Summer of 69, Clown in a Cornfield, Secret Mall Apartment and more
- May 8, 2025
-
Movie Reviews: FIGHT OR FLIGHT, SUMMER OF 69, CLOWN IN A CORNFIELD
Three new movies explore the art of the outrageous premise.
- May 7, 2025
-
May art: Holly Rios @ UMOCA, Mural Fest, Lizzie Wenger @ "A" Gallery
Diverse kinds of art on display for spring
- May 7, 2025
- More »
Latest in Entertainment Picks
Readers also liked…
-
THE ESSENTIAL A&E PICKS FOR MAR 14 - 20
St. Patrick's Day, Bored Teachers Comedy Tour, Downy Doxey-Marshall: Bloom and Laura Sharp Wilson: Gilding the Lily: A Choreography , and more.
- Mar 13, 2024
