FRINGE 2019: Tymisha Harris gives life, passion to remarkable musical biography
Josephine
Stage 1 (ATB Westbury Theatre)
Josephine Baker lived so full and adventurous a life that it challenges belief. Born into poverty and stark racism in Missouri, she ran off to France, took off her clothes (except for a few well-placed bananas), causing a sensation and becoming one of the most celebrated performers ever to headline the Folies Bergere in Paris. Known as “The Black Venus” she had many lovers of both sexes, and her company was much prized among artists, writers and intellectuals. She also secretly worked for the resistance – for which she was presented with the Croix de Guerre. In later life, when she would not perform before segregated audiences in America, she was branded a communist. Baker joined Martin Luther King in Civil Rights marches at the head of her group of 12 adopted children she called her “rainbow tribe.”
This unique and quite remarkable show begins with performer Tymisha Harris in silhouette disrobing for her career-making performance in Paris – while singing Baker’s signature song Deux Amours, Mon Pays Et Paris). She goes on, with considerable elegance and passion, to invite us into a rich and varied life.
Baker overcame the racism of both American and French society with her daring sexuality, vibrant sassy personality, great voice and stage presence. As years went on, she became an even bigger star known for her spectacular costumes. You will see many elegant costumes in this sumptuous production, and big production numbers. She was the first black woman to star in a movie.
The music is worth the price of the ticket alone. The charismatic Harris (accompanied at the piano by her co-creator Tod Kimbro and a full orchestra on tape) has her own supple and diverse sound ably covering decades of music, ranging from La Vie en Rose through an interesting take on Bob Dylan’s The Times They Are A’Changin‘ to a deeply heartfelt version of Billie Holiday’s Strange Fruit – which is about the rotting bodies of lynched blacks hanging from the trees in the American South. Her voice is clear and true and her dancing sinuous and sexy, carrying on Baker’s own tradition.
The performer’s emotional commitment to Baker is obvious throughout, and despite the yawning spaciousness of the Westbury Theatre, Harris keeps it intimate. Don’t miss this one – it constantly sells out.
5 out of 5
