LADY DAY Reviews- Page 3

[east side story]

Posted: 4/16/14 at 4:24pm

I braved the blue hairs and attended the 2pm show today. Ordinarily, I avoid a Wednesday matinee like it's cancer. The last time I went to a weekday afternoon show was Anything Goes in 2011. An elderly, female patron took it upon herself to sit in my pristine aisle seat. She claimed she had to leave early, and figured it was okay. Wrong. She ended up enjoying the show from the seat she paid for, and not the one I did.

The same thing happened at Lady Day! Just as before, she sat in her seat. I sat in mine.

Anyway -- Audra will break a certain Tony record in a few months.

[GilmoreGirlO2]

Posted: 4/16/14 at 4:33pm

Haterobics, saw this in another thread and thought it might be helpful to you:

As for seats, I was in row A, seat 224 and it was perfect. I would be cautious about going any further than maybe 226 or 228. Seats beyond those will have a profile view and backside view of Audra for most of the show. Row A is raised just a bit above floor level (Circle Club) so I had a PERFECT seat.

[YouWantitWhen????]

Posted: 4/16/14 at 4:44pm

Yeah, my seats pretty much suck and are off to the side, but oh well...

[AndrewAndrew]

Posted: 4/22/14 at 11:42am

Review of "Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill" with Audra McDonald at Circle in the Square
Click here for Video Review of LADY DAY

[east side story]

Posted: 4/22/14 at 1:53pm

AndrewAndrew: I am almost positive that I was sitting near the two of you last Wednesday.

[AndrewAndrew]

Posted: 4/22/14 at 2:22pm

Weds Matinee? That was us!

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 5/12/14 at 9:39pm

I went to Lady Day a few nights ago, and it was phenomenal. She gives a flawless, heartbreaking performance. I sat at a table towards the front, and they really pack you in there. I was 8 inches away from a woman with hair that was teased to the moon, so it was quite hard to see around her. The obvious con with table seating is if the table in front of you are all bigger or people of the same height, it's going to be hard to see around them. The best view was probably facing the stage in row A or something. The champagne and sparkling water was great, but three people (!) got up during a very quiet scene, and climbed the stairs to get to the bathroom. Very distracting.

My favorite part of the evening besides Audra? John Cameron Mitchell sat at the table next to mine! He gasped the loudest when she opened her mouth the first time. He is a very small and beautiful man.

[Someone in a Tree2]

Posted: 5/12/14 at 11:24pm

"The best view was probably facing the stage in row A or something."

We actually saw the show from row A seats 108, 109 3 weeks ago. Sutton is right that we had a great view, just enough over the heads of the table sitters to have a clear shot to Audra for the whole show. HOWEVER anyone with seats A 110 to 112, should be aware that they would be sitting behind the bar unit which is downstage center opposite the bandstand. Not terribly high but might make you feel like you're outside the room looking in at the action.

As for the show itself-- no doubt that Audra's performance is something to see. But Lady Day is far from a play for us, more like a cabaret act featuring a dazzling feat of mimicry. Those songs are amazing (Strange Fruit is one of the most astonishing things ever written), but at the end of the day, I'd rather hear Audra MacDonald herself perform these numbers rather than hear her reduce her instrument to resemble that of Miss Holiday's.

And for anyone who has a soft spot for David Sedaris' spot-on imitation of Billie Holiday emblazoned on their brain, I dare you not to burst out laughing when you first hear Audra open her mouth and sing.

[YouWantitWhen????]

Posted: 5/14/14 at 12:13am

I saw it tonight, in row C, basically sight line with her profile, and I was blown away by her performance. That was simply amazing. I would se it again tomorrow if I had the time. And since she played to all sides of the theater, the view was great, even if not dead on, I was able to see both her and the main piano player interact.

I am so glad I got to see this.

[Phillytheatreguy10]

Posted: 5/14/14 at 12:29pm

Save starting another thread and apologies if this has been answered, but does Audra stage door on a 2 show day after the matinee, specifically Sat.?

[PalJoey]

Posted: 5/14/14 at 2:00pm

Seeing this Friday. Sometimes I shiver with anticipation.

[jayinchelsea]

Posted: 5/14/14 at 2:08pm

Went last night. She was utterly amazing. Yes, it is more of a cabaret act with some dialogue, and it takes a moment to adjust to hearing Billie's voice come out of Audra's mouth, as I have probably seen and heard Audra perform live and in concert on tv more than any other current performer, but within moments you are totally captured.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 5/14/14 at 2:13pm

Yes, I felt captivated within seconds. An incredible performance that will get her that Tony, for sure. She looked really beautiful, too.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 5/17/14 at 10:07am

One of the most astonishing and deeply moving evenings I have ever spent in a theatre. As a longtime Billie Holiday fan, it was cathartic.

[indytallguy]

Posted: 5/21/14 at 4:21pm

Just came from the matinee, and I completely echo what Pal Joey said.

I've always liked Audra's performances, but never loved her as much as some, but she was just astonishing. And what an enjoyable 90 minutes from the ensemble playing beforehand to the simple staging to the intimate space. Just a great show.

[Mike3]

Posted: 7/8/14 at 11:24pm

When I walked out of THE GLASS MENAGERIE in January, I was certain I had just seen a Tony winning performance for best actress in a play. Seeing WHEN WE WERE YOUNG AND UNAFRAID on Sunday reminded me just how blessed we are to watch an actress like Cherry Jones perform.

That having been said, tonight I was finally able to see LADY DAY. I've seen Audra McDonald perform many times. I believe this Tony was most richly deserved. I will never forget the look on her face as she exited the stage in search of her flowers -- simply haunting.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 7/9/14 at 12:41am

When you see performers like Cherry Jones and Audra McDonald give performances like these in the same season, you really realize that the awards are meaningless.

All that counts is the experiences they gave you, the experiences you had.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 7/9/14 at 11:18am

When I saw the show over Memorial Day weekend, as soon as I exited the theatre, I called my mother on my cell as said, "I think we just saw history being made". The next week, she booked her flight and tickets.

[GilmoreGirlO2]

Posted: 7/9/14 at 1:21pm

Glad to see this thread be brought back up – I saw the show two weekends ago and am still reeling from it. I have been finding it impossible to accurately describe the experience to my friends and family. I truly felt uncomfortable watching the show – I genuinely felt like we were seeing things we shouldn’t be seeing. I was absolutely devastated after and felt physically sick to my stomach from the emotional punch I was given in the theatre. Audra, hands-down, gave the best acting performance I have ever seen in my life, and I don’t say that lightly.

I am one who can see shows I love over and over again but, while I would love the chance to experience such a phenomenal acting performance again, I don’t think I could honestly handle the emotions. Ultimately, it all felt much too real.

I urge anyone who hasn’t seen it to not waste any more time and get over there. There is no way to overhype the performance that Audra is giving on the stage.