BWW Reviews: Alexandra Billings Makes a Stunning Return to Singing at the Federal After 5 Years
By: Don Grigware Apr. 21, 2015
On Sunday April 19, actress/singer Alexandra Billings brought her new show I'm Still Here...Still! to Sterling's Upstairs at the Federal to overwhelming success. It was a packed house of adoring friends and fans who have come to love Billings for what she brings to the stage -passion, a passion for performing, and most importantly, a passion for her audience. She genuinely cares about everyone, and on top of that, she is screamingly funny. When I first reviewed her cabaret six years ago, I stated:
"I must admit, after seeing so many great cabaret artists lately, this lady tops them all. Her instrument has an astounding range, she can act your socks off and... she is raunchy and deliriously hilarious, all in one breath".
What I can add to that now is her honesty. She fearlessly tells it like it is. Recently lauded for her participation in amazon Prime's new series Transparent, she referred to her transgender and said, "What about a transgender President? Why not? To confuse the rest of the world." She then proceeded to put down Putin, "He's gay. He's in that big closet with John Travolta and Tom Cruise." Funny, funny, funny! Billings is about as honest as the late great Joan Rivers who let it all hang out for our uber enjoyment. Recently having turned 53, Billings talked about her fiery 20s, the know.it.all attitude of her 30s, her nervous 40s and now? "I just don't give a f---!" She grabbed her hair. "My hair? Out of a box! I don't give a f---!" All great performers should take risks and be able to put themselves down. It's good for the soul.
Billings said up front that there were two reasons for doing the show, first of all, to reunite with her audience and then to bring "clarity" to the fore, "to recognize miracles" in the world of gay, lesbian and transgender people. "Creep" is such a powerful song, which Billings used as a blessing in honor of those gays who "didn't make it." But for her, it's all optimism, shown in renditions of "Maybe This Time", "I'm Still Here" and "For Good". Having lived through alcohol, drugs - which she described as a world of FOG - being gay, transgender and HIV, Billings now feels that Sondheim's "I'm Still Here" is something she can sing with assurance because she has reached that plateau of introspection and understanding. Another wonderful number that shows the urgency of having a clear intention is Jason Robert Brown's "Stars and the Moon", beautifully delivered, as well as the fiercely delightful "Everybody's Girl" and... "Not My Mother", which expresses the way one feels when taking an earnest look at oneself in the mirror, as you grow older.
The rivetingly entertaining show came in at about 77 minutes and was under the superb musical direction of Bill Newlin at the piano. Billings started the show with "Borrowed Time" and followed that with "I've Had a Ball", both showing the fragility and unpredictability of life. As she performed her encore Stephen Schwartz's "For Good" she worked her way from the front to the very back of the audience to make contact with as many people as she could. This is what makes Alexandra Billings the truly great performer that she is. Like Judy and Liza always have... she gives and gives, which, from the bottom of her soul, is everything she's got. Brava!
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