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Don’t Shed A Tear (The Story of Billie Holiday)
Producer, Writer, Director Jackie Taylor
Black Ensemble Theater
4520 N. Beacon St.
Chicago, IL
Call 773-769-4451, tickets $40
Fridays & Saturdays at 8 PM
Sundays at 3 PM
Running time is 2 hours with intermission
Limited Open run
Golden voice captures the soul of Billie Holiday
In their first “R” rated show, Jackie Taylor and the Black Ensemble Theater have created a masterpiece. Taylor chronicles the traumatic life of jazz and blues legend, Billie Holiday (1915-1959). Said Ms. Taylor, “If you’re going to be true to the life of Billie Holiday, then you must include profanity. It was a part of her being, from a very young child and continued as a natural way of taking all through her life. It was how she expressed herself and there is no getting around it. “ The bluntness of Holiday’s language was filled with bittersweet raw humor. This show is one of Jackie Taylor’s finest as she had Billie Holiday tell story herself.
This first person narrative personalized the emotional cruelty and painful life experiences that shaped Billie Holiday’s character and her music. She sings the blues because she lived the blues. From her childhood prostitution with her mother to her drinking and drug use that escalates to main-lining heroin, Billie’s life was so painful that drugs and music were her only salvation and escape. Jackie Taylor has the terrific Vikki Stokes plays Billie Holiday with a cocky self-assuredness filled with honesty that hides her pain. Yet, Stokes shows Billie’s shame and guilt from being rapped and her wild, self-destructive side in a powerful and venerable mixture that revealed the essence of the tormented singer.
Vikki Stokes not only demonstrated her acting talents here, but her vocals captured the silky, tortured bluesy style of Holiday. She plunged a dagger right into our hearts with moving tunes like “ Good Morning Heartache,” “Them There Eyes,” “My Man,” “They Can’t Take That Away From Me” and “No Regrets.” Yes, it was as if Billie Holiday was reincarnated on the Black Ensemble stage!
Thomas Washington’s musical arrangements together with Jimmy Tillman’s smooth jazz band gave this show a marvelous sound that allowed Vikki Stokes to capture the style, spirit and emotion that Billie emoted in her songs. The 40’s jazz riffs were a toe-tapping delight. Rich saxophones sounds dominated.
Don’t Shed A Tear is a heart wrenching glimpse into the dark, pain-filled life of perhaps the greatest jazz singer of her era. At $40 per ticket, this show is a bargain. You’d be hard pressed to find a more energetic, tuneful show than this one. Vikki Stokes’ vocals are pure joy. The blues never sound so aching. Jazz and blues lovers will be enchanted with this show. Billie Holiday will not be forgotten.
Highly Recommended
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast
Date Reviewed: November 12, 2006
Jeff recommended
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