A Night with Janis Joplin – The Musical ★★★★ Sadler's Wells Peacock Theatre | Aug 21 - Sep 28, 2024


This is a tribute show with a difference. While Mary Bridget Davies creates an impassioned incarnation of the incredible Janis Joplin, her musical influences also come to life in some extraordinary re-creations of Aretha Franklin, Bessie Smith, Odetta, Nina Simone and Etta James. We definitely would have liked to have seen more of Kalisha Amaris, Georgia Bradshaw and Danielle Steers in their all too brief appearances as these icons. Nevertheless, the focus on Joplin is totally satisfying, and Davies manages to embody the spirit of the unique talent who was a worthy inheritor of the legacy established by these great ladies of the Blues. The contrast between a traditional rendition of "Summertime" and Joplin's tormented and tender interpretation of the classic illuminates her one-of-a-kind talent and her rightful place among these luminaries. Davies' performance of this piece is a highlight in a programme that has many milestone moments. The format for the show is a concert with flashbacks to Joplin's childhood. The biography, however, is largely skimmed over to concentrate on Janis' music which is left to speak for itself, the commentary only hinting at the psychological needs that made "Pearl" one of the greatest exponents of the musical genre that expresses an almost existential sense of loss and longing. The need for love and the pain that reverberate through the powerful performances of "Me and Bobby McGee" and "Down on Me," make Joplin's art the window into the spirit of the artist. Davies' equally impressive versions of the signature songs "Ball and Chain" and "Piece of My Heart" deliver all the passion of the originals while exposing her own extraordinary talent. It is a performance of unbridled energy that is exhausting even for the onlooker. Indeed, it is a performance that gives the lie to the old cliché that we will never see her like again.

Rated: ★★★★

Reviewed by J.C.
Photo by Danny Kaan

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Map & Location: Portugal St, London WC2A 2HT, UK

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