Billie! Backstage with Lady Day at Sierra Madre Playhouse

Stage Raw - Recommended

"...If you are a true Holiday or jazz fan, you will likely enjoy this section, as it’s when the music takes over almost entirely; the “theatrical” element of the show is past, so you can pretend you’re in a 1950s jazz club without the benefit of a martini. Though Hardy doesn’t go for an imitation of Holiday’s distinctive vocal style, she still makes an appealing cabaret singer. The band is especially gifted and the solo performances from each of them, particularly Mr. Wakefield on sax, were standout moments. Even if the end of the show feels slightly anti-climactic, it’s difficult to be too disappointed. It’s not about rousing drama here, after all; it’s about a brief interlude back in time."