Presented by Dynamite Lunchbox and Hartstone-Kitney Productions
Reviewed 27 February 2020
Josephine Baker is a name well known in music circles. A famous singer, born in America who made good in France before and during WWII. Not so well known is her involvement as a spy for the French Résistance and her support of the Civil Rights movement in the 60’s. All this and more is encapsulated into the show just called Josephine.
Created by the performer Tymisha Harris in conjunction with producer Michael Marinaccio and director Tod Kimbro the show allows Josephine to tell her own story in her own style. From her humble beginnings in poverty, through her discrimination filled youth to her theatrical triumphs. Harris is Josephine, explaining , with no shame, her many marriages and lovers, her twelve adopted children and her joy in performing. France certainly loved her, she was awarded the Croix de Guerre and the Legion d’Honneur for her war service and was given a state funeral. Her relationship with America was more complex, but she undoubtedly loved her homeland.
Harris’ performance was tour de force, she had the audience in the palm of her hand and gave the sensuous and sultry performance one would expect. There were many highlights, but her rendition of the Billie Holiday song Strange Fruit made my spine tingle and my heart cry.
A wonderful performance which I am afraid, if you haven’t caught it yet, you’ve missed. All remaining performances are sold out!
Reviewed by Fran Edwards
Twitter: @franeds
Rating out of 5: 5
Rest of season SOLD OUT
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