An electrifying night of jazz and music history! Don’t miss Synthia Hardy’s stunning production Billie! Backstage with Lady Day
by Bob Rich
Billie Holiday changed jazz music forever, in a career spanning nearly three decades. With her deeply evocative voice, she brought the soulfulness of the blues into popular music, earning four Grammy Awards and the enduring respect of millions of fans. The concept of doing a one-woman show about Billie’s extraordinary life is immensely ambitious, but Synthia Hardy rises to the occasion extremely well in her magnificent production. ...
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An electrifying night of jazz and music history! Don’t miss Synthia Hardy’s stunning production Billie! Backstage with Lady Day
by Bob Rich
Billie Holiday changed jazz music forever, in a career spanning nearly three decades. With her deeply evocative voice, she brought the soulfulness of the blues into popular music, earning four Grammy Awards and the enduring respect of millions of fans. The concept of doing a one-woman show about Billie’s extraordinary life is immensely ambitious, but Synthia Hardy rises to the occasion extremely well in her magnificent production.
From the moment Synthia takes the stage, you will be mesmerized. She talks directly to the audience throughout the show, as if she actually is Billie Holiday reminiscing about her life. Deeply familiar with the phrases Billie used when she spoke, and the attitudes in society during this era, and the milestones that graced Billie’s life, Synthia brilliantly transports us into the world of this legendary singer. She radiates Billie’s warm, witty, resilient personality. She also expertly sings some of her classic songs, as a piano player accompanies her at stage left.
She begins with anecdotes from Billie’s youth: her early love of music, her enjoyment of boxing, and the sorrows of her broken home. She remembers getting discovered at an audition in Harlem, and the time she bet a bigoted nightclub owner that she could sing better than any vocalist in the house, and she won the bet. She speaks about the loves in her life, her exciting travels around the world, and her brushes with charming celebrities like Bob Hope and Paul Newman.
The lighting is subtle, often just enough to help us see Synthia, her faithful pianist, and a few props on-stage. When she sings her haunting protest song Strange Fruit, bright ominous red light blankets the stage, while the small silhouette of a lynching is displayed on the back wall. When she talks about the loss of a loved one, she sings her melancholy classic Good Morning Heartache, while a lone spotlight captures her grief as she collapses onto a chair in the final verses. After an intermission, an excellent jazz band joins Synthia on-stage as she sings even more of Billie’s wonderful tunes, like Don’t Explain, Fine and Mellow, and Solitude.
What truly elevates the show is Synthia’s inspiring level of devotion: the wistfulness and intensity in her eyes, the joy in her voice when she’s singing, and her total immersion into character. She paints a masterful portrait, reminding us how Billie Holiday brought tremendous beauty into the world despite the devastating hardships she endured. I‘ve seen over thirty productions as a theatre reviewer, but this one is my personal favorite. I give my highest possible recommendation.
Billie! Backstage with Lady Day, now in its 13th year, will be performed on Friday, February 25 at 8pm, Saturday, February 26 at 8pm, and Sunday, February 27 at 2:30 pm at the Sierra Madre Playhouse, 87 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre, 91024, SierraMadrePlayhouse.org. All audience members must bring proof of being fully vaccinated against covid-19, and the wearing of a face mask is also required. Written and performed by Ms. Synthia Hardy, with a live four-piece band, directed by Bryan Rasmussen. Musicians in Synthia’s band include: Lanny Hartley on piano, Jerry "Jay Flat" Williams on saxophone, Dwayne "Augie" Augustine on bass guitar, and Bobby Wilkerson on drums. Tickets are $40 for Adults (22-64), $35 for Seniors (65+), and $25 for Youth (21 & Under). Call (626) 355-4318 for more details.
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