The delightful Morgan Hallett portrays Janis via letters written home, interview responses and her down-to-earth philosophy on life as two amazing singing artists, Katrina Chester and Cathy Richardson, thrill us with Janis in concert---The combination proves staggering in performance, heart and soul. Just as Joplin lived life on an emotional roller coaster ride, this tribute places context around her trying to simply live being true to herself. That Joplin found herself upon arrival in San Francisco seems an understatement---joyfully, Joplin realizes she's no longer an outsider. From "Haight Ashbury's first pin-up girl" to making sure she doesn't "end up as the poor man's Cher," we share in her pure girlish glee at discovering herself and San Francisco. Through her words and music, Love, Janis offers a glimpse into the final four years of Joplin's life. All three performers embody the spirit of Janis Joplin in their own unique style while drawing upon the nuances we remember about this iconic rock star. Watching Hallet show us the raw emotional depth and fierce intellect of Joplin along the way is a joy. And I caught both Chester and Richardson on alternating preview nights, they rotate performances due to the sheer exertion it takes to embrace Joplin in concert. I liked them both for different reasons and one a bit more in delivery than the other.My only distraction was the stage left guitarist's bobbing head. At first, I thought he was acting out one of the 'Big Brother' band members but he continued his same head bobbing through the 'Kozmic Blues'band change and into her third band. The set design and lighting work in an amazing theatrical adaptation of Joplin's story from director Randal Myler. The music rocks down to your bones just like it should! "Get up off your asses!" Janis shouted at us from the stage---and we did!
Saturday, July 15, 2006
On Love, Janis
Run---don't walk---to see San Francisco's official premiere of Love, Janis! on Sunday Night July 16th at the Marines Memorial Auditorium! You can love Janis Joplin or not, what matters is the sheer mastery of bringing her music and story to our attention again in this magical creative theatre experience! 
The delightful Morgan Hallett portrays Janis via letters written home, interview responses and her down-to-earth philosophy on life as two amazing singing artists, Katrina Chester and Cathy Richardson, thrill us with Janis in concert---The combination proves staggering in performance, heart and soul. Just as Joplin lived life on an emotional roller coaster ride, this tribute places context around her trying to simply live being true to herself. That Joplin found herself upon arrival in San Francisco seems an understatement---joyfully, Joplin realizes she's no longer an outsider. From "Haight Ashbury's first pin-up girl" to making sure she doesn't "end up as the poor man's Cher," we share in her pure girlish glee at discovering herself and San Francisco. Through her words and music, Love, Janis offers a glimpse into the final four years of Joplin's life. All three performers embody the spirit of Janis Joplin in their own unique style while drawing upon the nuances we remember about this iconic rock star. Watching Hallet show us the raw emotional depth and fierce intellect of Joplin along the way is a joy. And I caught both Chester and Richardson on alternating preview nights, they rotate performances due to the sheer exertion it takes to embrace Joplin in concert. I liked them both for different reasons and one a bit more in delivery than the other.My only distraction was the stage left guitarist's bobbing head. At first, I thought he was acting out one of the 'Big Brother' band members but he continued his same head bobbing through the 'Kozmic Blues'band change and into her third band. The set design and lighting work in an amazing theatrical adaptation of Joplin's story from director Randal Myler. The music rocks down to your bones just like it should! "Get up off your asses!" Janis shouted at us from the stage---and we did!
The delightful Morgan Hallett portrays Janis via letters written home, interview responses and her down-to-earth philosophy on life as two amazing singing artists, Katrina Chester and Cathy Richardson, thrill us with Janis in concert---The combination proves staggering in performance, heart and soul. Just as Joplin lived life on an emotional roller coaster ride, this tribute places context around her trying to simply live being true to herself. That Joplin found herself upon arrival in San Francisco seems an understatement---joyfully, Joplin realizes she's no longer an outsider. From "Haight Ashbury's first pin-up girl" to making sure she doesn't "end up as the poor man's Cher," we share in her pure girlish glee at discovering herself and San Francisco. Through her words and music, Love, Janis offers a glimpse into the final four years of Joplin's life. All three performers embody the spirit of Janis Joplin in their own unique style while drawing upon the nuances we remember about this iconic rock star. Watching Hallet show us the raw emotional depth and fierce intellect of Joplin along the way is a joy. And I caught both Chester and Richardson on alternating preview nights, they rotate performances due to the sheer exertion it takes to embrace Joplin in concert. I liked them both for different reasons and one a bit more in delivery than the other.My only distraction was the stage left guitarist's bobbing head. At first, I thought he was acting out one of the 'Big Brother' band members but he continued his same head bobbing through the 'Kozmic Blues'band change and into her third band. The set design and lighting work in an amazing theatrical adaptation of Joplin's story from director Randal Myler. The music rocks down to your bones just like it should! "Get up off your asses!" Janis shouted at us from the stage---and we did!
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