Review: SATCHMO AT THE WALDORF ASTORIA

By Toby Zinman

For the Inquirer

It takes a brave theater critic to write a play, and a brave critic to review it—especially since Satchmo at the Waldorf is by Terry Teachout, the esteemed critic of the Wall Street Journal. So it's both a pleasure and a relief to tell you it's a great show.

This add-on to Wilma's season comes from Long Wharf Theatre, directed by  Gordon Edelstein.  It stars John Douglas Thompson who plays Louis Armstrong, the world's greatest trumpet player, as well as  his manager, and the musicians of the next generation, Miles Davis and Dizzy Gillespie who think Armstrong is an Uncle Tom, a clown to entertain rich white folks.  Thompson shifts impressively between personality and personality, changing his voice, his accent, his bearing.

Satchmo is in his dressing room backstage at the Waldorf Astoria, a gig so posh he's still amazed at his good fortune, even at the age of 70; his health is failing and the bio-drama's device is to have him reminisce into a tape recorder.  We hear about his hard childhood (son of a whore in New Orleans), his stint in reform school where he learned to play the horn, through a complicated life with four wives, the mobsters who ran the nightclubs and the star of David he wears around his neck.

The man who was central to his life and career was  his manager, Joe Glazer; although we learn the truth of Glazer's apparent betrayal, it is a truth Satchmo will never learn. "Work 'em like dogs, treat 'em like kings—that's how you run a band." He made Satchmo a star.

Most of what comes through is Armstrong's love of music. Of the famous smile that could make audiences smile back: "I'm there in the cause of happiness."

Teachout has written a biography of Armstrong, and packs a lot of material into 90 minutes;  some of the issues seem unresolved, but that may be the fault of life and not the script. Teachout is currently writing a biography of Duke Ellington, so stay tuned.

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Wilma Theatre, Broad & Spruce Sts. Through Dec.2.  Tickets $39 - $54. Information: 215.546.7824 or wilmatheater.org,