        |
 |
|
As
seen in Lifetimes– December 2002 |
 Next Article |
| Three fine singers portray jazz legend Ella Fitzgerald in the Black Ensemble Theater's lat-est biographical musical. Dressed in lovely formal gowns and singing the opening overture in unison, they separate to perform the songs that punctuate her life. Round-faced, cherubic Evelyn Danner plays the young, would-be dancer who shifts to a singing career. In addition to performing Fitzgerald's first big hit, "A Tisket A Tasket," she sings five songs that mark the early years when young, unattractive, homeless Ella went from talent show to talent show, winning all contests while failing to land consistent employment. Her moving rendition of "If It Weren't for You" captures Ella's pain at the premature death of the man who gave her career a start, bandleader Chick Webb (played by musical director/percussionist Cortex D. Sims). The next five songs, sung by sophisticated Ava Logan, mark Ella's middle years as she reaches success with "How High the Moon," questions her life in "Why Was I Born" and longs for a loving relationship after the failure of her marriage, with "Someday He'll Come Along," Mature Marilyn
Grimes covers the entire second act with the last seven songs. Ella
moves from jazz hall to con-cert Mil, singing celebrated tunes: "Someone
to Watch Over Me," "Blue Skies," and "My Funny Valentine."
A high point is Grimes' rendition of "Mack the Knife," complete
with Ella's scat when she forgot the words. In addition to the improvised,
meaningless syllables sung to the melody, her wonderful ad-libs include
the delightful substitution of the names Bob Dylan and Louis Armstrong
for the lyrics before finally imitating Satchmo's distinctive voice.
Grimes also awesomely mimics Ella's distinctive Talented writer, producer, director Jackie Taylor sets the songs like pearls strung along the necklace of Ella's life ' — linked via a story line narrated by C.J. Maddox, playing Ella's cousin and lifelong companion Georgiana. |
While Ella's life ought to be made into a movie, Georgiana notes that it will never happen because there's not enough conflict: no drugs, no nervous break-downs. But Ella did suffer. She experienced abuse from her stepfather after her mother died, flight not only from him but later from an orphanage, several un-happy marriages, the loss of a beloved sister followed by adopting his son, loneliness, and — in later years — crippling diabetes. Snippets of her story appear — but all are secondary to the music. The evening is more concert than drama. To fill out the slight plot, Jim Greene plays all the male roles, while Cescily N. Washington and Keith Givens enhance the mood with interpretive dance. The Black Ensemble Band is terrific, both when accompanying Ella and on their own, with Sims conducting Derrick Bounds on piano, Tracey Baker on bass, and David Silvester playing trumpet and performing brilliant saxophone solos. By Beverly Friend |
