Singing for Janis Joplin

A semi-autobiographical production about the life of Janis Joplin has been running off-broadway for a few years and now it's run at the Marine's Memorial Theatre in San Francisco has been extended through September 26th. Letters that Janis wrote to her family and loved ones make up the script, and her songs are performed live by two strong singers, alternating on performances.

Kathy Richardson was the singer on the night 100 tickets were sold to the friends of Chet Helms, and her performance was received with great appreciation. Her ability to capture the authentic nature of Joplin was noticed in her first notes. The popular image of Janis was of erratic abandon, but what was noticed by this select crowd was Kathy's simple ability to walk to the microphone and envelope the audience with fervor, passion and not break a sweat. That was the real Janis.

What further gives this production a timeless authenticity is the childlike eagerness of the letters, casting hope in every line, and soliciting joy for the future. The sense of the sixties shows through as she develops her career and measures the adversities set in her way. The single complaint I heard commented on the production is the missing few years, late in the sixties, when politics hits every aspect of the day. Joplin either never wrote of it, or those letters were never included in this production.

A great leap from the joy of her life to heroin addiction may explain this silence. COINTELPRO may have had a hand in this, but a lot is not said.

Much of the strength of the production are in the hands of Musical Director Sam Andrew and Bill Hamm, as Lighting Director. Sam was guitarist in Big Brother and the Holding Company, and Bill was one of the creators of the psychedelic light shows we now expect of rock shows. This team with Director/Adaptor Randal Myler, cause this to be a timeless and nice history lesson. It is good to be schooled with such peace.