Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill -Review

WATERTOWN, New York (WWNY)

Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill

Syracuse Stage is currently presenting the Broadway hit, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill. It’s the play that won Audra McDonald her record sixth Tony Award in 2014. More like a monologue with music than either a play or musical, author Lanie Robertson’s script depends a great deal on who is cast as the iconic Billie Holiday (nicknamed Lady Day). It isn’t a stretch to imagine the great Audra McDonald inhabiting the immensely talented, but troubled Holiday.

Have no fear, with Tracey Conyer Lee as Holiday this production, directed by Jade King Carroll is engaging from start to finish. She is assisted by music arrangement by Danny Holgate and musical direction by Gary Mitchell, Jr., who also has the only other speaking part as Jimmy Powers. The production’s power comes from its immersion in time and place-South Philadelphia, March 1959, just months before Holiday’s death.

Conyer Lee is incredibly charismatic, and her singing voice is divine. She commands the stage that likely emulates the feeling of being in Holiday’s presence. She is equally arresting while singing a famous torch song, like “Crazy He Calls Me” and when recanting a dark story from her harsh, troubled life. This is the crux of the show; the beauty of her music contrasted with the darkness of her life; drug addiction, systemic racism, physical and sexual abuse, and FBI harassment. This complexity will always be part of the Billie Holiday story. She just wanted to sing, but unfortunately as an incredibly talented black woman born in the early 20th century, this was not easy. Sure, there were times when Lady Day didn’t make the best choices, but the odds were stacked against her from the beginning.

I am fond of stories that illustrate the difficulties, sometimes insurmountable, of an artist just trying to be an artist. This was the great appeal of Tick, tick…boom. Triumph is often the art that survives, and tragedy is the life that was lived. The Meta appeal of the cabaret atmosphere, chat..sing..chat..sing of this production certainly adds to its impact, especially in the absence of the dramatic build of a play that has a more cohesive structure of beginning, middle and end.

At the center of it all is the very talented Tracey Coyner Lee who is both regal and ruined as the great Lady Day.

Now at Syracuse Stage, click here for tickets and information.