LILLIAS WHITE- Fire Island Pines

 Written by Backstage Bruce    

Lillias White

    Fire Island Pines is one of the 17 communities located on the barrier island of Fire Island situated off the south shore of Long Island. At one point, this was the most expensive vacation real estate on the entire east coast. There are no cars. You take a ferry across The Great South Bay and walk wherever you go once you arrive. 

    There are boardwalks that have been built long ago leading everywhere. The area is primarily a gay destination resort with a handful of restaurants and quaint little boutique stores. There is a community house that produces high-quality shows with top-name entertainment. 

    I was spending the summer out on Fire Island, working as a server, in one of the restaurants, in the far less affluent community in the next town over, Cherry Grove.  One day, I read a poster that Lillias White was performing her latest cabaret show 'From Brooklyn To Broadway' in The Pines. 

    I love Lillias. I had seen her in the musical 'The Life' a few times. She played the role of Sonja and won her Tony for the song 'The Oldest Profession' I became friendly with her over the years. Myself and friends attended her cabaret show at Arci's while she was recording her live CD. So, I was not going to miss this. 

My 'original cast recording' CD and ticket stub, she signed it

    The Pines community house box office was my first stop right after I finished up my lunch shift. I was so lucky to get like the very last single ticket, obstructed view, in the very last row, right next to the person running the spotlight. I was so happy to just be getting in. I emailed Lillias to let her know that I would be at the show. Night of, I stopped at the florist, in The Grove, and I picked up the biggest bouquet of white lilies as possible. I had ordered them days before for her. 

    Almost everyone turned to look as I entered. Much to my absolute shock, I was the only one carrying flowers. Everyone was looking their absolute best, expensive, designer labels as far as the eye can read. This was one of the biggest social events on the calendar. I see Lillias' assistant. I have met him before. I say a quick hello and start to make my way to my seat. I didn't need any assistance, I knew where it was, way back there. He speaks up and says "No, Bruce, this way." I just looked at him and told him my seat is this way. He responded again, "No, this way, we have a seat for you." 

    

    I followed him. He kept going and going right up to the front row! There was a single seat right there waiting. He pointed to it and told me "That's your seat." I couldn't believe it! The smile on my face was ear to ear. Every head turned as I walked to my seat with my flowers. Never could I ever plan this, another miracle.

Lillias's live album 'Live At Arci's'

    The band starts to play a terrific mix of Blue Moon and Devil Moon combined. On stage were the three-backing musicians. The pianist and musical director was the incomparable, Mr. Timothy Graphenreed (Composer- The Wiz). On bass was the talented Mr. Alan Moody. Mr. Wally Gator kept the beats going, all night long, on the drums like a champ. 

    Lillias is still off stage, unseen to the audience, when she starts to sing. Upon hearing her beautifully unique voice the audience erupts into a welcoming applause as they are eager to see her. She serenades two lines to build up the anticipation before she makes her grand entrance. She steps on the stage and the crowd goes wild.

    She was surrounded with dozens of fragrant, long stem white lilies. Being up front I had the opportunity to see and smell everything. She was wearing gold, high-heeled shoes, with 3-inch heels. Her nail polish was candy apple red. I would have never seen any of these details if I had been sitting back there next to obstructed view, spotlight person. 

    She was dazzling. The band smoothly rolled into the next  tune, the Eric Bennett written number, 'When I Think Of You'. Lillias calls this her "ex-song". Everyone laughed, this got a good chuckle as almost all can relate. She was seated, on a stool, in the center of the stage. As the beat picks up she slowly arises and before long she had worked herself into a sweat really belting it out. It was fun to experience that arc. She threw in some phenomenal do wop/ be bop, during the song's break, to showcase all the vocal talents. She had such fantastic range. 

    Great interaction with her fans, there was comedy and storytelling interwoven throughout the night. It was now time for audience participation. This could have gone either way. Either they were going to jump in enthusiastically or sit there stuffily. They joined in. Lillias radiated so much positive energy that it just filled up the room and the room returned it. They clapped and sang along for the duration, without messing any of it up. That was some fete.

Painting of Fire Island Pines Community House 1953-2004

   
    One story that she shared with us was that particular day, September 2nd, 2000, happened to be her mother's 84th birthday. Her mother was from South Carolina and her father was from the islands. She came from a big family and every Sunday they would get together and have a big family meal. Afterwards her Aunt Lillias (her namesake) would put her on the table to sing and dance for the whole family. These were her earliest performances. 

    Next up was 'Born For You' which was a real tearjerker, have the tissues ready. 'Fairy Tales' followed that, it was very enchanting like a fairy tale should be. Timothy whipped up the next little ballad 'From Brooklyn To Broadway'. It was a great introduction into Lillias's vast catalog of work on Broadway. From that, she and the band segued into 'Brotherhood of Man' from 'How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying'. The audience loved it. 

    Continuing with the Broadway medley, from the musical 'Once Upon An Island' sprang 'Mama Will Provide'. Another musical, she starred in, 'Dreamgirls' provided both 'Dreamgirls' and 'One Night Only'. The crowd was definitely in a frenzy by now. 'Thank God I'm Old' from 'Barnum' was in that terrific mix. This is the meat and potatoes they came here for. The final number of the Broadway collection was next. Everyone was waiting for it. This is the ditty, from the Cy Coleman-Ira Gasman musical, 'The Life', for which she won numerous awards: The Tony, The Drama Desk, The Outer Critic's Circle, etc...

    From the first note, they recognized 'The Oldest Profession'. Everybody was clapping, some cheering, a few calling out "We love you, Sonja". She gave it her all, the extended version, quite riveting, so captivating. The moment she finished the entire house was on their feet. During the ovation, which lasted well over five minutes, I was nudged from behind. Someone whispered "now" meaning the flowers. So I gave them to her, she took them, and smiled back. 

    She stood there holding the flowers for a few minutes, then laid them on top of the piano and the musicians started playing the encore, the final number of the evening 'The Way He Makes Me Feel'. It was so sultry, what a great choice to bring it all home. That tune finishes and again, the people leapt to their feet, two standing ovations!!! They loved her. She took her bows, waved graciously, picked up her flowers and exited the stage gracefully. 

    Hopefully she will return every summer even if it's for 'One Night Only'.