A Night With Felicia P. Fields

Pearl’s Rollin’ With the Blues – Writers Theatre

When audiences think of the Blues, they most often associate that musical style with sadness, depression or melancholy. But the Blues can also have happy or even slightly bawdy lyrics, as the packed house at Writers Theatre joyfully discover when Chicago superstar, Felicia P. Fields takes the stage. Co-created by Ms Fields and Director Ron OJ Parson, the Tony Award-nominated actress/singer absolutely brings down the house in Glencoe. Closely harmonizing together with her onstage band, the talented company dazzles the audience with their salty and heartfelt words and music that provide additional heat to the summer night.

The Blues, as Ms Fields and her costar and Music Director, singer and guitarist Chic Street Man explain and beautifully demonstrate to us, may be the mother of modern musical forms. It’s a genre and form that originated in the Deep South during the 1860’s. Its roots can be found in the African-American work songs of sharecroppers, railroad laborers and prison chain gangs, as well as in the religious spirituals sung by American slaves. Ms Fields reminds us that today’s Gospel music is actually an offshoot of the Blues, and she ought to know because she’s the Mistress of both genres.

Felicia P. Fields certainly understands how to sing the Blues. The genre has been a part of her life for decades. She’s proven this in her Tony Award-nominated performance as Sofia in Broadway’s “The Color Purple,” and as the Jeff Award-winning Best Actress in Porchlight Music Theatre’s “Sophisticated Ladies.” She’s appeared on just about every stage in Chicagoland, while also remaining a familiar face in television, film and commercial work. At Writers Theatre, Ms Fields previously portrayed the title role in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom;” and at Northlight Theatre the diva rocked the house in “Let the Good Times Roll,” “It Ain’t Nothin’ But the Blues” and “Low Down Dirty Blues.” In this production, featuring songs handpicked by the star herself, Ms Fields portrays a Blues singer named Pearl (“They Call Me Big Pearl/Built for Comfort”). She opens the show with the familiar, uptempo, “Wang Dang Doodle,” and continues delighting her audience with songs like “Rough and Ready Man,” “Got My Mojo Working,” “You Can Have My Husband,” and the poignant “Lord I Tried” and “Everyday I Have the Blues.”

Brilliantly accompanied vocally and instrumentally by Frank Menzies (on keyboard), Ricardo Jimenez (on horn and harp), Harold Morrison (drums and percussion), Julie Ponce (on bass), international performing artist Chic Street Man serves as the show’s Music Director. He also accompanies himself on guitar singing some of his own compositions, as well as songs by other legendary Blues composers, including “C’mon in My Kitchen,” the catchy “Hey, Hey, Baby, Hey,” the lovely “Beautiful” and the excellent “Fly Away.”

The production, lovingly guided by Ron OJ Parsons, plays out on Jack Magaw’s gigantic oyster shell scenic design, a glittery setting on which Miss Pearl can strut her stuff, while often schmoozing one-to-one with her audience. Rueben Echoles’ glitzy, jewel-like costumes give the 90-minute show even more dazzle, and the whole production is illuminated by Jared Gooding’s brilliant lighting design.

In a world that seems to be constantly trying to cope with so many troubles and conflicts, Writers Theatre has brought Chicago theatergoers a way to take a break from their own personal sadness. Felicia P. Fields and Chic Street Man offer songs of love, faith, happiness and hope that are guaranteed to bring audiences to their feet, singing along, clapping their hands, stomping their feet and rejoicing that the “Blues Is All Right.”

Highly Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas    

Presented June 23-July 24 by Writers Theatre, 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe, IL.

Tickets are available in person at the theatre box office, by calling 847-242-6000 or by going to www.writerstheatre.org.

Additional information about this and other area productions can be found by visiting www.theatreinchicago.com.