August 15, 2006

Love, Janis

Janis


caught a stellar play the other night that traced the rise of janis joplin during the hey day of the san francisco rock scene in the late 1960s. the happenings of the times and the development of janis as the quintessential beatnik rock icon were revealed through letters that she wrote to her family during that period.

i've done a bit of reading about janis, and so i was not that surprised to see her sensitive and introspective side shine through. but it was totally cool to see this part of her brought to life on the stage. janis was alternatively insecure and self-confident, wildly popular and utterly alone. she charged with bravado and recoiled with despair.

the show was as much concert as it was play, and the woman who played the musical janis (cathy richardson) was fantastic, as was the house band.

the crowd was decidedly "aging hippie" and chocked full of good vibes. no doubt many in the audience had actually caught janis live during those halcyon days. i had the palpable sense that those in attentance were reliving their own youth as much as enjoying the show.

all told, a thoroughly enjoyable rendition of a tragic tale...

Janis

Posted by bojon at August 15, 2006 10:08 PM