Playwright: Jackie Taylor
At: Black Ensemble Th., 4520 N. Beacon
Phone: ( 773 ) 769-4451; $35
Runs through: open run
'Etta James. Etta James. Etta James. I loves me some Etta James.' And so will you ( if you don't already ) when you witness Jackie Taylor's musical biography triumph of the powerhouse singer. The line above is a signature, used throughout Taylor's crafty and wise portrait of the woman who wrestled with serious demons ( abuse, neglect, drug addiction, and more ) while churning out an astounding body of musical work that spanned decades and included R&B, blues, jazz, gospel, and rock and roll. Musical biographies ( read: revues ) are often a cumbersome affair, linking a set of hits with tidbits from the artist's life to try and capture something elusive and ethereal. Often, the links between songs sound like a school report. Not here. Jackie Taylor surprises and enthralls with her portrait of James. Taylor made the inspired decision to have not one, not two, but five Etta James on stage at the same time ( wonderful shorthand for demonstrating psychological complexity and what the span of years can do to a person physically and emotionally ) . Not only does this stroke of brilliance showcase the complexity of a tortured artist's psyche, it also allows for some real dramatic conflict as the various versions of James argue, tease, and sympathize with one another.
Tying it all together is a drag queen ( Ms. Real, in a perfectly modulated, perfectly sassy turn from Rueben D. Echoles ) , who—with a firm, but loving hand—keeps the girls on track and sensitively leads them to conclusions about themselves and their self-worth. It's a risky device, but it works here, drawing us in and painting a complex and riveting portrait at the same time.
While it's interesting to hear about Etta James and her rise to fame ( she was a child gospel prodigy at five, and won just about every musical tribute and award there is to be had throughout her long and platinum career ) ; and it's interesting to hear how a woman who was an icon of popular music couldn't find love ( except in the latter part of her life ) and had problems with substance abuse, what really makes this show sing is, well, the songs.
Fortunately for Taylor ( and more importantly, for the audience ) , we have five absolutely amazing voices to thrill and touch us. When this show rocks, it's hard to sit still. In fact, if you can sit still, you better check your pulse. France Jean-Baptiste, Desla Epison, Dawn Mitchell, Carrie, and Melanie McCullough are not only gifted actresses; they are dynamite in interpretation and vocal pyrotechnics ( James knew how to belt out a song ) . We're treated to about two dozen songs over the course of the show, and every one of them is a slam dunk.
At last, Jackie Taylor and her fine ensemble have brought us a musical portrait worth taking notice of. Jackie Taylor's spell was cast … and here we are in heaven, at last.
