I’ve talked here before about my love for writing reviews of live theatre and of how distressing it was for me to have to put that writing on hold while COVID-19 took over. Finally, it appears that COVID’s disruptions might be on hold for the moment, which means that Blue Bridge Theatre is boldly stepping up to the plate with one daring production after another.
Last night I attended my second recent live performance there: Day After Day, a one-person musical about the life of Doris Day. I’ve never known a whole lot about Day, other than the fact that she’s considered an iconic big-band singer and put out an enormous number of hits, including “Sentimental Journey” and, of course, “Que Sera, Sera.”
Written by local playwright/actor Sarah Anne Murphy and directed by Brian Richmond, also from Victoria, Day After Day features just one actor, Linda Kash, who sings her way through the life of a woman who had a dazzling singing and acting career (over 600 songs and 39 films to her credit), four marriages, one child, and a battle over the loss of her money; later in life she also became a renowned animal activist. One might think that that this is too much to fit into a one-person show, however, Kash sashays through her storytelling with humour, grace, and transparent heartache that she tries in a very human fashion to sluff off as if she is stronger than the hurt that is threatening to surface. Kash is convincing in her role, and does justice to Murphy’s writing and Day’s story and songs.
One element of this production that cannot go unmentioned is the performance of the music. Kash’s singing is fantastic, and the team of four musicians known as The Nighttime Quartet—Don Horsburgh on piano, Jeff Poynter on sax and accordion, Joey Smith on bass, and Kelby MacNayr on drums—are clearly having as much fun as Kash, pulling the audience right in.
Patrick DuWors created the set and costumes with meticulous Hollywood glamour that sets the low-lights-and-martini mood.
Although Day’s story is not necessarily a happy one, it’s not entirely unhappy, either. She lived to be 97 years old, moving through her trials with courage. This show uses her story to inspire audiences and remind us that what will be will be; what we do with that is up to each of us.
Day After Day
Until Sunday, August 15
Various times and prices, livestreamed and in person
bluebridgetheatre.ca