Review: LADY DAY AT EMERSON'S BAR & GRILL at Westcoast Black Theatre

Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill is a play with music by Lanie Robertson, recounting various events in the life of singer Billie Holiday, known for the white gardenias she wore in her hair. Although her life was bittersweet and peppered with physical abuse, drugs, alcoholism and time in prison, her candor and her music touched millions. The play originally premiered in 1986 at the ALLIANCE THEATRE in Atlanta, Georgia, and went to Off-Broadway, then opened on Broadway in 2014. The 2014 Broadway production was filmed at the Cafe Brasil in New Orleans and broadcast on HBO. Broadway star Audra McDonald received a 2016 Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie for her role in the broadcast

In Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe's offering, Tony Award-winning and Grammy-nominated recording star and actress Melba Moore brings Billie Holiday to life. The production takes place in South Philadelphia in 1959 where Billie is performing in a run-down bar in one of the last performances before her death. In an interactive cabaret-style, she sings, frequently sips her liquor, and tells stories about her life to the audience. Careful to do justice to each song while allowing herself to be immersed in the tortured soul and the alcohol-rendered, frail body that was Billie Holliday, Miss Moore owned the stage. She was glamorous in a sparkling white lace gown with large triangular diamond earrings and long hair gathered and flowing down her back. You will forget that you are taking in an incredible performance and instead believe you are a part of Billie Holiday's world. A world of drugs and alcohol, that during this performance makes her thoughts wonder, has her stumbling on her words, and awkwardly leave the stage, only to return to deliver yet another flawless song. Some of the beautiful songs in the play are "I Wonder Where Our Love Has Gone," "When A Woman Loves A Man", "T'aint Nobody's Biz-ness" and the famous "God Bless The Child" which Billie wrote.

In speaking so candidly to her audience, we come to understand her bitterness over a non-supportive mother everyone called The Dutchess, learned she was raped when she was 10 years old, and that the man she loved so dearly turned her on to heroin. She expressed regrets over not having a nice home or children. Yet there was a survivor inside of her and a passion for singing that kept her going.

The awesome band made up of incomparable pianist Levi Barcourt (Holiday's accompanist Jimmy Powers, Music Director), Kenny Walker (bass guitar) and drummer James Varnado add a whole new dimension to the play with some of the best tunes you will hear anywhere. When Billie becomes overwhelmed or needs to take a break in the middle of her set list, Jimmy (Levi Barcourt) calms her down and covers for her. You can feel the uneasiness for him, yet he is patient and kind towards Billie. It's so real.

Michael Newton-Brown (Scenic Designer) and Lighting Designer Nick Jones created the perfect ambiance for a cabaret club that provided an intimate feel and set the tone for so many great songs and stories Billie had to share with her audience.

According to the production notes, Miss Moore is currently producing an album titled "Forever Moore" to be released on her new label, A'Moore Music Inc. She is also working on her autobiography. It is worthy to note she has a passion for children and is committed to giving her time to organizations involved with children.

Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill runs through April 8, 2018. To learn more about Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, visit www.westcoastblacktheatre.org. To learn more about Melba Moore visit www.melbamoore.com.

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