Davies Does Joplin: Puttin’ on the Grit

Mary Bridget Davies was just a teenager when she realized that her singing voice sounded a lot like that of Janis Joplin, the iconic rock singer who quickly shot to fame in the late 1960s before her accidental death from an overdose at 27. 

“My normal singing voice is pretty darn clean in comparison,” Davies recalled this week. “But I thought it was great. I’ve always had a soulful voice, and a lot of people thought my tone was a lot like hers.” 

But, really, Davies wondered at the time: “When am I ever going to use that?”

Fast-forward some 30 years, and Davies can look back on a majority of the last two decades that she’s spent performing Joplin’s material in a variety of settings. Most notable, and again currently, is her turn as the star of A Night with Janis Joplin, which gets its Santa Barbara debut at Ensemble Theatre Company, which plays April 4-26 at the New Vic. 

Davies’ first opportunity to gear up for playing Joplin came via a previous off-Broadway show called Love, Janis, followed by a six-year stint touring on and off with Big Brother and the Holding Company, Joplin’s first band. But nothing has resonated as deeply for Davies as A Night With…, which earned her a Tony nomination in 2004 and has been the vehicle of her ever more enthusiastic emergence ever since – save for a few years during the pandemic. 

The musical, which finds Davies almost channeling Joplin on such hits as “Piece of My Heart,” “Summertime,” “Me and Bobby McGee,” “Try (Just a Little Bit Harder),” “Down on Me,” and “Mercedes Benz,” truly brings out the grit in her voice, its tonal resemblance to the late singer’s uncanny. 

“I know how important she is to people,” Davies said. “She’s as much of an icon for some people as Elvis. You have to get as close as possible without it being an impersonation that’s corny or insincere.”

Davies has done her homework consistently over the years, devouring Joplin’s recordings, diving into books about the singer and even becoming friends with Joplin’s siblings, including narrating the audio version of Love, Janice, at the request of the author, Joplin’s sister Laura. 

“It’s not an ego thing for me,” she said. “Her story always resonated with me, and it’s like I’ve been tasked to carry her mantle, because otherwise why do I sound like that? I ask myself those questions all the time. I’m always a student of hers finding ways to go deeper.”

Davies says she takes care to inhabit the character from within, finding the pain and passion as well as the joy exhibited by Joplin. 

“Playing Janis gives me a chance to process my own trauma on stage through song and latch on to the intention behind it,” she said. “She could just wail and howl with her instrument, really make you feel it. And you believed it because it was true. So what I’m doing is processing my emotions and plugging them into her as a conduit, which is what gives it authenticity.”

Whatever her method, it’s surely working. Reviews about the show – which has a live band and four backup singers who also portray major influences in Janis’ life including Etta James, Nina Simone, Bessie Smith, and Odetta – have been rapturous everywhere Davies does the show. Which remains true even as the actress-singer refines her approach with each new production. 

“When I first started, it was all about power,” she said. “The fire and energy and anger and all that raucousness only. I was in overdrive focusing on that. But she was more than that. After stepping away from the show for a few years I’m able to give it a lot more nuance and grace to show her more vulnerable parts. She wasn’t just Pearl, the girl from the album cover, but a much more well-rounded person, which I can now play because I’m completely comfortable with my own awkwardness and vulnerability.

“I always felt like I was born at the wrong time. But the older I get while still doing this role, I feel more and more like this is my chance.” 

ETC’s Series of Special Events 

Opening night on Saturday, April 4, is immediately followed by a festive post-show wine and hors d’oeuvres reception with the artists, including, of course Davies and co-director Brian McDonald… Wednesday evening performances on April 8, 15, and 22 are preceded by a half-hour talk by dramaturg Ward LeHardy, who will flesh out the nuances behind the musical in The New Vic courtyard at 6:45 pm… Cocktail night begins with a 7:15 pm mix and mingle while enjoying a complimentary show-themed libation in the courtyard on Friday, April 10… The regular Pride Night pops up at 6:45 pm on Thursday, April 16, when theatergoers can sip a free show-themed cocktail while cavorting in a spirit of camaraderie and celebration in the courtyard… Talkback Night takes place on Thursday, April 16, when all patrons are invited to join the cast for an informal 20-30-minute Q&A about the show after the curtain comes down… ETC’s Actors Unscripted event – new this season – lets theatergoers join cast members for a special one-hour Q&A session where they reveal more about their thoughts and lives as actors in relation to Janis. The free event requires reservations and takes place at 10 am on Saturday, April 18… The Tea Talk prior to the matinee on Saturday, April 25, is a chance to enjoy tea and pastries as well as conversation with a special guest speaker who will share inspiring stories and valuable insights into the contributions of women in rock music, one of the themes of the show. 

Admission to all of the special events is free for ticketholders. Visit www.etcsb.org.