What I liked
I liked the staging, and the vocal power of Phillip McNair as the bass player. The characterization of Brenda Eager as mother figure Katy Durrin, and Patti Henley as the Pastor were particularly riveting. Ashlee Olivia was haunting as the Girl and Dina Cataldi as Jude embodied the spirit of Janis Joplin.
The singing was also great.
What I didn't like
It was at times difficult to understand the dialogue. Tiny box theatres don’t have ideal acoustics. I would also have loved even more music.
My overall impression
This play is like the flip side of the Elvis story, a performer buoyed by the same spirituals and plagued by similar corruption. Unlike Elvis, Rory is a survivor who comes to terms with her demons. She faces some hard choices, and we imagine her as an artist who will continue to grow and flourish for decades to come. Her story is brought to life by a talented ensemble cast.
