“Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill” Reviewed by Julia W. Rath and Frank Meccia

Julia W. Rath’s review

[rating=5]Commanding vocals make Alexis Roston a powerhouse as she channels the one-of-a-kind Billie Holiday in the jukebox musical “Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill.” Brilliantly written by Lanie Robertson, Holiday’s personal story is portrayed flawlessly by Roston, who mimics the supremely talented vocalist in facial expression, mannerisms, and voice. This ninety-minute true-to-life performance is a sheer delight: sad and gritty, yet punctuated with humor and genuineness. In tempo and phrasing, Billie Holiday’s songs are distinctive in that she gave the blues more of a jazz beat, making them more uplifting than “straight blues.” This winning combination has given her songs an enduring appeal and has made them very singable—as I witnessed on the day I saw the show—when I watched one of the audience members mouth the words of every single number that Roston performed.

In-depth monologues are interspersed with these treasured songs to highlight significant aspects of Holiday’s autobiography. Among other things, we discover that her real name was Eleanora Fagan and that she later named herself after her movie hero Billie Dove; only afterwards was she given the nickname Lady Day. We are told about her rocky relationship with her former husband Sonny, her relationship with her parents, and her regrets for not having children and a family life, not to mention all the obstacles she had to endure in her showbusiness career by being “colored” at a time of extreme racial segregation. She explains how her personal history intersects with most of what she wrote, including two of her most famous and best-selling songs: “God Bless the Child” and “Strange Fruit.” We get the skinny on the song “What a Little Moonlight Can Do”, with “moonlight” being the operative word. We witness how upset she is with having gone to prison for a year, with the reason being hinted at from nearly the beginning of the show. No topic is off-limits, including Roston’s depictions of Holiday’s struggles with addiction to alcohol and heroin.

In addition, we learn about the tenor of the times when Holiday lived and more generally about the history of racism, social inequality, and the racial divide in the United States in the 1930s through the 1950s. Today’s presentation supposedly takes place in 1956, and Holiday is frank about her personal life and her feelings about ofays, the entertainment hierarchy, and crossovers of black and white audiences. Originally from Philadelphia, she alludes to racial discrimination when it comes to performing at various New York City venues. She is more straight-forward discussing her road trip to the American South. It took band director Artie Shaw and his musicians to allow Holiday to tour Southern cities at a time when she was not allowed to eat in public next to white people or to use the (whites only) public restroom.

Roston is not the only one skillfully cast. Pianist, musical director, and conductor Nygel D. Robinson plays the role of Holiday’s intended husband Jimmy. Robinson and band members Harold Morrison on drums and Jeff Harris on bass round out the musicians in this production. But then again, as the evening wears on and as Holiday’s addictions get the better (or the worst) of her, she suddenly confuses Jimmy with Sonny, who remains the love of her life. Lady Day’s mother, known as Duchess, once warned her that he was the man to avoid, but his specter constantly returns to her whenever she is under the influence.

The performance is jointly directed by Roston and Christopher Chase Carter, who use the backdrop of a cabaret venue to its maximum. Scenic designer Johnnie Schleyer has done a fantastic job with the authenticity of the set. “Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill” takes place in an intimate setting consisting of a room laid out with round tables seating parties of two, three, and four people each. There is a stage and musicians upfront, and a full bar and a mini-stage in the back of the room, where the sound mixer is located as well as the bartender.* Lighting designer Denise Karzcewski and lighting supervisor Rachel West have created a splendid mélange of lights and lighting changes, corresponding to the stories that Holiday relates to the audience and the mood of the various songs. Costume designer Samantha Jones has dressed Roston in a white ballgown, which works very well when lights shift color and the spotlight is engaged. Sound designer Carl Wahlstrom must be commended for such a great setup! At one point, Holiday brings her treasured dog underneath her arm, a chihuahua named Pepe, dressed up in a bow tie but clearly uncertain about what was happening around her.

Holiday’s life was a journey in the school of hard knocks. In the last analysis, it is her songs with their unique beat, structure, and heartfelt lyrics that capture the imagination of the audience and make this performance profound, serious, and joyful all at the same time. When we learn about the pain, hardship, and self-destructive behavior that she went through, it becomes all the more amazing that she became such a successful entertainer and career woman.

After the show was over, the first thing my guest said was: “We’d like to think we’ve moved on in this country, but things are still pretty much the same.” Although I’m not as cynical as my guest is about race relations in America today, the show certainly gives us reason to pause and reflect—not just as we honor Black History Month but when we consider the direction of our increasingly divided country and ponder what the future may hold for each and every one of us.

“Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill” is playing through March 12, 2023, at the Venus Cabaret at the Mercury Theater Chicago, 3745 N. Southport Avenue.

Single Tickets: $60-$70
You may opt to reserve a Premium Table for $259-$299 each.

“Premium Tables seat up to four people and make sure that you have the whole table to yourselves. There will be a fabulous bottle of sparkling wine (selected by our in-house sommelier) waiting for you at your table when you arrive.”

Performance schedule:

Fridays – 8:00 p.m.
Saturdays – 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
Sundays – 3:00 p.m.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit: https://www.mercurytheaterchicago.com/lady-day-at-emersons-bar-and-grill or phone the box office at 773-360-7365, 12 noon-5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

For more information about the Mercury Theater and to learn about all of their other offerings, see: https://www.mercurytheaterchicago.com/.

COVID-19 policy: “Mercury Theater Chicago is committed to ensuring the safety of our employees and audience. We are following the direction of federal and local agencies. Today, we strongly encourage the use of masks. This policy is subject to change based on updated local regulations.”

*Incidentally, the cash bar in the back is open for business throughout the performance. That said, in my opinion, I would not leave my seat in such a dark room to move around unnecessarily. It’s better to order your drinks ahead of time and stay seated—or you might miss something important.

To see what others are saying, visit www.theatreinchicago.com, go to Review Round-Up and click at “Lady Day at Emersons Bar and Grill”.

Frank Meccia’s review

[rating=3]When it comes to women in Jazz and Blues, the 5 main great names are Ella
Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Bessie Smith, and Aretha Franklin, and of course, the
one and only Lady Sings the Blues, Billie Holiday. I was very young when she
passed away, but I did grow up hearing her great music, and the music of other
great Jazz and Blues singers.

“Lady Day At Emerson’s Bar and Grill” takes place the same year Billie died, and features some of the great songs of Billie Holiday, about a dozen songs are interlaced Billy’s reminiscing about her days on the circuit ,traveling to make a living, which includes her early years of neglect, her parents, and her mother who she refers to as the “Duchess”. She does mention her failed marriages, and the time she was arrested and went to jail for a year. And she explains the horrors of racism in the South, and what she faced.

Hard to believe that in 1947 she was one of the highest paid female jazz singers in America, Her income in today’s dollars would be equivalent to about $4.5 million a year, and yet she died with 0.70 in the bank. A victim of 4 failed marriages, and poor managers, and ripoff record labels.

This show is played in the Venus Cabaret of the Mercury Theater, a perfect spot to recreate the nightclubs of Philly and the Bronx. Alexis J. Roston plays Billie Holiday and is the Co-Director of this play, with  Mercury Theater Chicago Artistic Director Christopher Chase Carter.  This is an all new production although Ms Roston has played the role before, making it a natural for her. She has a voice and mannerism that reflects Ms. Holiday, and her music is handled by  Harold Morrison on drums , Jeff Harris on bass, and Nygel D. Robinson on piano who also portrays  Jimmy her manager. To be honest, I could listen to these musicians all night .They were that good, and  this venue is an ideal place to see this production. It will take you back in time..

My problem is, can’t we let this woman rest in peace, do we have to expose her drug abuse that almost destroyed her career? Yes, her husbands were all abusive, and supplied her with drugs, her last husband was a “Mob Boss”, who fleeced her for every cent she had, when the police found her dead, she was handcuffed to her bed. I really think we don’t need to know the details, when she leaves the stage in the middle of her performance for not feeling well, we see the backset lit up showing her injecting heroin, and when she returns you can see her track marks all over her lower arm. This woman has accomplished so much in her life and has
received so many awards and honors after her death, that we do not have to drag her through the mud.

“Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill” will continue thru March 12th at The Venus Cabaret  at Mercury Theatre located at 3745 N. Southport Avenue with performances as follows:

Fridays   8:00 p.m.

Saturdays at 3pm and 8pm

Sunday at 3pm.

To order tickets  773-325-1700

www.mercurytheaterchicago.com

To see what others are saying, visit www.theatreinchicago.com, go to Review Round-up and click at “Lady Day at Emerson’s bar and Grill”.