THE BILLIE HOLIDAY STORY
Firstly, I confess that I’m a huge Billie Holiday fan so I’m bound to be more critical than most when approaching any tribute to her. Reviews of the show have been glittering, with one describing Nina Kristofferson’s performance as Billie ‘electrifying’.
She does give a great performance and the musicians are excellent, but they did slightly miss the sound of Billie’s band; playing 1950s-style swing as opposed to the sound Lester Young (sax/clarinet) and Teddy Wilson (piano) created for her when they were part of her act. Still, Kristofferson is a fine actress and she can carry a tune, while the work she’s put in with director Ben Woolf has paid off – she had the singer’s mannerisms perfected.
If this was about her life story and not so focused on the music, then I’d give it fi ve stars. But as it is, the songs of Billie Holiday were present, her sound was not.
Until 25 May at the Charing Cross Theatre, Villiers Street, London WC2: 0844-493 0650, www.charingcrosstheatre.co.uk
She does give a great performance and the musicians are excellent, but they did slightly miss the sound of Billie’s band; playing 1950s-style swing as opposed to the sound Lester Young (sax/clarinet) and Teddy Wilson (piano) created for her when they were part of her act. Still, Kristofferson is a fine actress and she can carry a tune, while the work she’s put in with director Ben Woolf has paid off – she had the singer’s mannerisms perfected.
If this was about her life story and not so focused on the music, then I’d give it fi ve stars. But as it is, the songs of Billie Holiday were present, her sound was not.
Until 25 May at the Charing Cross Theatre, Villiers Street, London WC2: 0844-493 0650, www.charingcrosstheatre.co.uk