Cabaret of Legends Review by Louis B Hobson

When Tymisha Harris emerges with a huge headdress of gardenias, you know she is going to channel the immortal Billie Holliday. She does, recalling how Billie suffered at the hands of her husband, and even the FBI. Billy was imprisoned for continuing to sing Strange Fruit, a song that condemned racism and lynching in the American Southern states. Harris imbues the song with such power and pathos. In what is far too short a time to spend with this talented performer, Harris also pays tribute to Ella Fitzgerald, Josephine Baker, and even Beyonce, but her finest moment is when she brings Tina Turner to the stage. Her Tina is every bit as good, if not even better, than what we saw at the Jubilee in Broadway Across Canada's Tina The Musical this season. There is such a fierceness to her portrayal. Harris also does a fine rendition of Whitney Houston's ballad I Will Always Love You. Harris is back in Airdrie in February, and she is definitely a performer not to be missed. She has such wonderful stage presence, and such wit and sass.