Lady Day
Lady Day
#1Lady Day
Posted: 7/15/14 at 10:28pm
Just saw Audra in Lady Day. Loved her in Ragtime and have been meh about her other performances.
She is simply amazing in Lady Day. I left the theatre 30 minutes ago and still have chills. She gives a master class in performance and leaves an indelible impression of Billie Holliday
One of the finest performances I have ever seen
Everlast85
Featured Actor Joined: 5/2/14
djdan1079
Chorus Member Joined: 3/20/12
#4Lady Day
Posted: 7/15/14 at 11:37pm
Was in the city Saturday to support a friend who wrote a show that was in NYMF. Wasn't planning on going to a show that night until my dinner plans fell through. I stopped by the box office and ended up scoring one of the cabaret seats right beside the stage. The following 90 minutes was one of the most devastating, heart-wrenching, and amazing performances I've had the pleasure of seeing in my lifetime.
It's not often that I leave a theater feeling like it was a privilege to witness a show. I felt that way about Lady Day.
Question for the board- had this been nominated for best musical instead of best play, would it have won? Was any musical this season on par with this show?
I personally don't believe so.
Also had the pleasure of meeting Audra at the stage door and she was beautiful and gracious with everyone who waited.
The best night I had at the theater all season long.
#5Lady Day
Posted: 7/15/14 at 11:44pm
I was also at tonights performance. I sat in Row A, 4th seat in on the outer aisle (233 I believe) so i was equal with Audra's side. I felt like I was having my own personal concert. Her subtle gestures, facial expressions, and whispers sent shivers down my spine. I will forever be haunted by this performance, and I couldn't be happier. I'm already dying to go see it again, but I don't want to chance ruining the experience I had tonight. I'm forever grateful this extended so I was able to see it.
THIS is what theatre is all about.
#6Lady Day
Posted: 7/15/14 at 11:48pm
"Question for the board- had this been nominated for best musical instead of best play, would it have won? Was any musical this season on par with this show?"
It's hard to ponder the outcomes when it requires putting the show in the wrong category. Similarly, would Neil Patrick Harris have beat Jessie Mueller for Best Actress in a Musical?
djdan1079
Chorus Member Joined: 3/20/12
#7Lady Day
Posted: 7/15/14 at 11:51pm
No- NPH would not have beat Jessie.
And I only ask because there was some discussion around the opening of Lady Day of what category it should belong in. Clearly, it was ruled a "play with music" and I don't necessarily disagree with that.
My point was that it was more enjoyable than any musical this season.
Carry on.
djdan1079
Chorus Member Joined: 3/20/12
#10Lady Day
Posted: 7/16/14 at 12:11amSo, you've created an alternate reality where your favorites still don't win Tony awards?! From what I've learned on BWW, I think you're supposed to monkey with the variables until your things win... although you did give yourself a bit of a hollow victory in that Lady Day deserved to win, but couldn't compete with Hedwig's PR machine, heh.
#11Lady Day
Posted: 7/16/14 at 12:12amI loved it too. Before we went to the show, my boyfriend didn't even know who Audra was. He's not really a theatre person, We were lucky enough to sit at a table and throughout the show she came over and spoke directly to us with her hand on BF's shoulder. He now refers to her as his girlfriend and wants to see everything she ever does.
Mr Roxy
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/17/03
#15Lady Day
Posted: 7/16/14 at 8:29pmLook, I also feel really fortunate to have seen Audra's performance in this piece, and sure, her performance will go down in the books as one of the greats. BUT...... does anyone really believe that the SCRIPT here was better than the other musicals this season? As theater literature, I'd rate the show as just slightly above a cabaret act, even if I was in love with Audra's renditions of those gorgeous songs.
#16Lady Day
Posted: 7/16/14 at 8:40pmI disagree. I think the actual play, while not necessarily revolutionary or anything, does a great job at depicting the way in which American culture often has no place for people like Billie Holliday once they become "difficult" and not particularly respectable. The tension between Billie's way of telling the stories (her jokes, her nonchalant attitude about some really awful things that were going on in her life) and the actual content of what she's saying is devastating and I'd even say incisive. Yes, Audra's performance is a wonder, easily one of the best I expect to ever see (the moment that will always stay with me was watching her move her back after she comes back from her "break," to be able to use your body like that is simply astonishing). But the performance wouldn't be there if she didn't have a script to support the great work she's doing. She absolutely elevates the play, but I think it's misguided to say the play is trivial.
"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"
#18Lady Day
Posted: 7/16/14 at 9:39pm
My theatre barometer. 24 hours later (and a horrible work day as part of that) and I am still affected by that performance and that show. There have been a handful in my (refuses to say but more than 30) years seeing over 300 Broadway shows which have affected me in this way. The words and direction were as devastating as the performance. Audra (again not in the Audra fan club) added so many layers and emotions. Subtle, devastating.
It makes me very happy to be be able to see live performance of this quality. And it gives me hope
Carry on
