5 out of 5 stars
"Some people live, some survive. I'm a survivor. I plan to be around for a long time," said the character portraying Janis Joplin during the play/biographical concert "Love, Janis" on Saturday afternoon at the Kansas City Repertory Theatre in Kansas City, Mo.
The musical is an interpretation of Joplin's life through letters she wrote to her family and interviews from newspapers, radio and television.
Overall, the play is exceptional. It features two women representing Joplin. One woman plays the "Speaking Janis" while the other is the "Singing Janis." There are also many scenes where both actors recite lines simultaneously or in conversation form with each other, depicting Joplin's untamed yet bright mannerisms.
"Speaking Janis," played by Lena Kaminsky, narrates the play and tells the story of Joplin's experiences from 1966 to 1970 in San Francisco and on tour across the United States. Most of her dialogue is in the form of letters she has written to her family and includes many anecdotes that give the audience a taste of Joplin's humor and intelligence. She describes Joplin's various pets, consumption of drugs, and alcohol and her love of literature.
"Singing Janis," performed by either Kacee Clanton or Mary Bridget Davies depending on the show, sings short renditions of about 11 of Joplin's hits in concert style with a full band on stage. During Saturday's show, Clanton belted out Joplin's tunes with integrity and rasp.
The play's arrangement allows the audience to see two sides to Joplin: her outrageous, bluesy, rock-'n'-roll performances and her humble, soft tone in letters to family.
The two actors complement each other and the many facets of Joplin's personality by visualizing a real cause-and-effect biography of her life. The audience is able to understand and sympathize with Joplin from her beginning, lonely days in California through her fame with different bands all the way to her eventual death.
Along with its unusual layout, the play has excellent costumes, instrumental music, vocals and props.
The actors are able to capture the essence of Joplin, down to her rose-colored glasses, raspy voice, polyester attire, bangles, beaded necklaces and feathered boas.
Watching the play gives viewers a retrospective feel like watching an old movie clip from the '60s.
Contrary to Joplin's quote, "I'm a survivor," which was in response toa a request for comment about the death of Jimi Hendrix after he died of drug overdose, Joplin died Oct. 4, 1970, of a heroin overdose.
She was found dead at the Landmark Motor Hotel in Los Angeles only weeks after Hendrix died, also age 27.
With the drug and alcohol lifestyle Joplin enjoyed, she was not around for a long time. However, her spirit, style and music have survived. This is made evident by the production of the play, which was inspired by the book "Love, Janis." Laura Joplin, Janis' sister, wrote the book with a compilation of letters Janis wrote to her family from 1966 to 1970.
"Love, Janis" opened in 2006 and has toured the United States.
