LOVE, LINDA The Life of Mrs. Cole Porter - An Interesting Musical Biopic Being Married to Genius

LOVE, LINDA is a charming & poignant cabaret show at the Triad Theater that offers an intimate ruminating of life as Mrs. Cole Porter married to the celebrated & legendary composer, songwriter/lyricist Cole Porter.  Cole Porter is regarded as one of the most significant songwriters of the 20th C.  He married the beautiful, wealthy socially connected Linda Lee Thomas of Louisville (Stevie Holland) whom he met while living in Paris.  Linda and Cole shared a deep love for travel, music and socializing.  The two became each other's loyal companion and confidant.  Between musical selections all composed by Porter, Linda looks back with fond & bittersweet memories of their lives together.  She lets us know up front she was aware of Porter's homosexuality going into the marriage.  Although this understanding came with acceptance & discretion, it also came with anguish & setbacks.  The book by Stevie Holland and Gary Friedman strikes the right note between storytelling and song.  Holland is adroit at taking us into her confidence.  She attains both ebullience at their whirlwind lives of lavish entertaining and elicits sympathy with her feelings of loss for her youth & their popularity.  Porter's successes and set-backs are galvanizing and anguished.  His unrequited love for a young male dancer is painful for both.  Linda went into their marriage with eyes open but this doesn't shield the heart from hurt.   Holland's lovely voice is accompanied by a talented trio consisting of a pianist, drummer & bass who do justice to Porter's music.  No one knows the true relationship in a marriage but LOVE, LINDA gives an entertaining window into Linda & Cole's collaborative co-habitation in a cabaret fashion.