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150 Productions Presents:
Love, Linda
The Life of Mrs. Cole Porter
(Cole Porter Bio)
Starring: Stevie Holland
(Stevie Holland Website)
At
The Triad Theater, NYC
158 West 72nd Street
NY, NY 10023
212.352.3101
(Triad Website)
Book by Stevie Holland
with Gary William Friedman
Music and Lyrics: Cole Porter
Direction: Ben West
Piano: Randy Ingram
Bass: Peter Brendler
Drums: Ben Cliness
Dress Design: Pamela Dennis
Jewelry: Verdura
Lights and Sound: Kane Chiang
Arrangements and Orchestrations:
Gary William Friedman
Press Representative:
Shirley Herz Associates
Dr. Roberta E. Zlokower
April 21, 2010
(See Stevie Holland’s CD Review: Before Love Has Gone)
If you love Cole Porter’s music, rich, cognac vocals, sexy theatricality, classy, high society anecdotes, top of the line music and orchestrations, a glass of wine, and an intimate setting, then rush to The Triad, on West 72nd Street, for Stevie Holland’s new Wednesday night show, “Love, Linda: The Life of Mrs. Cole Porter”. Stevie Holland’s cabaret show is the best I’ve seen in years, a combination of well known and lesser known Cole Porter tunes, an inside and respectful view of the romance and turmoil of the Porters, and a smoothly narrated drama, as Ms. Holland personifies Linda Porter, with all her amusement and anguish. She sings Porter’s songs in arrangements created by husband-arranger-orchestrator, Gary William Friedman, and this duo has created one swell show. After seeing this show, you’ll be inspired to put on your pearls and little black dress, or, if you’re a man, a tux and white tie, and spend a night on the town, with champagne, repartee, and a lively foxtrot.
Ms. Holland’s Cole Porter repertoire ranged from “I Love Paris”, sung with sultry poignancy, enhanced by bass and cymbals, “Miss Otis Regrets”, “In the Still of the Night”, “Love for Sale”, “What Is This Thing Called Love?”, “My Heart Belongs to Daddy”, sung with torch song crooning, “Night and Day”, in an upbeat tempo, “Wunderbar”, and “When a Woman’s in Love”. Each song in this intermission-less, slightly over one-hour show, was lovingly woven into Ms. Holland’s fascinating narrative of Linda Porter’s relationship with Cole, Cole Porter’s Broadway shows and films, and their personal and professional setbacks and successes. There were tales of Paris, told lovingly, with details that drew us in. Yet, Ms. Holland did not sugarcoat Cole Porter’s demons, including his domestic abuse, his alcoholism, his infidelities, and his physical handicaps. She also focused on the life-long bond of this couple, despite estrangements, lost trust, a lost pregnancy, and a crippling accident.
Most importantly, Ms. Holland never came out of her role. She was Linda Porter throughout, with two vases of red roses, a grand piano and band in the background, a long, black slinky dress and pearls, and a glass of champagne. The band is jazzy and improvisational, the vocals are expressive and lyrical, the narrative is humorous and heartbreaking, and Ms. Holland is stunning and charismatic. You can get more information on this Wednesday night show by calling 212.352.3101. Kudos to Stevie Holland, and kudos to Linda Porter.
Stevie Holland as Linda Porter
in "LOVE, LINDA"
Courtesy of 150 Productions
Stevie Holland as Linda Porter
in "LOVE, LINDA"
Courtesy of 150 Productions
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