The Marilyn Monroe Show by Michael Dresser

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Cast (in order of appearance)

Marilyn Monroe - Evelyn Connors

Norma Jeane - Diana Chrisman

Zelda Zonk - Jessica Sherman

Jimmy Dougherty - Nathan Kiley

Johnny Hyde - Craig O'Hara

Joe DiMaggio - Mark Pearce

Arthur Miller - Tom Caley

Director - Michael Alvarez

Musical Direction & Arrangement - Candida Caldicot

Choreography & Movement Direction - Fiona Rae

Set Design - Helen Quinn-Gregson

Lighting Design - Paul Green

Associate Lighting Design - Jenny Kershaw

Technical Stage Management - Matt Henry

Dialect Coach - Laurann Brown

www.themarilynmonroeshow.com

to see snippets of the show go to

 http://uk.youtube.com/user/curious1ibra

Having recently experienced bitter disappointment after seeing the stage performance of Marilyn and Ella at the Stratford Theatre, it was with a great deal of scepticism that I ventured out again to see another Marilyn play but as it was on my doorstep I decided I might as well go along and see what was being offered up this time in the name of Marilyn Monroe. 

The Marilyn Monroe Show is written by Michael Dresser and directed by Michael Alvarez. This is a musical potted history of the life of Marilyn Monroe. Using three remarkably similar looking actresses, Dresser divides his protagonist into Norma Jeane, Marilyn Monroe and Zelda Zonk – Marilyn’s escape mechanism and a pseudonym used to travel under etc, presumably Dresser chose three Monroes in an attempt to illustrate her Gemini personality traits and the fact that Marilyn was a multifaceted character. 

The venue for the play was The Parlure Spiegel Tent in Brighton, which has a spit and sawdust circus atmosphere – a very unlikely but intriguing place to be seeing a Marilyn play! As the seats were unallocated, we arrived early in order to secure a good view point, in fact, I would go as far as to say we managed to snare the best seats in the house – a table directly in front of the stage – it would only have been possible to get closer had we sat on the stage ourselves! 

Songs from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes mingled with the cool evening air as the lights came up for the performance and the first ‘Marilyn’ walked on stage I cannot deny my heart sunk – yet again I was confronted by a white dress reminiscent of the Seven Year Itch dress without the class, style or quality and the most very dreaded and feared wig! However, when it has to be said, a beautiful ‘Marilyn’ opened her mouth I did not hear the usual breathless gasping staccato tones, this managed to placate my flagging interest and had me sitting up in my uncomfortable seat listening. The actress Evelyn Connors who is a native of San Diego and studied at the University of Los Angeles did not have Marilyn’s voice down to a tee but what she did have was more than acceptable in combination with her beautiful looks, her stunning singing voice and her obvious acting talent. 

Initially as the ‘Norma Jeane’ (Diana Chrisman) and ‘Zelda Zonk’ (Jessica Sherman) joined Marilyn on stage, I was sceptical that this play could deliver a reasonable account of Marilyn’s life and yet, within less than ten minutes I was hooked! The three Marilyn’s took charge of the show; unfortunately the male cast were not as strong. I was very dismayed to see Joe DiMaggio wearing a combat patterned baseball hat and baseball jacket. Apart from when he was actually playing baseball I don’t recall ever seeing a photo/film clip of DiMaggio wearing anything remotely like it, Joe was a sharp dresser even when ‘casually’ dressed! 

Arthur Miller fared no better, his character was exaggerated, resulting in a caricature of a geeky plank! The only one of Marilyn’s husbands that really escaped with some dignity was Jim Dougherty (which incidentally, was incorrectly spelt in the literature for the show) Johnny Hyde also made an appearance and in doing so grew in statue as Joe shrunk! Whilst these little idiosyncrasies of the seasoned Marilyn fan can’t go by unnoticed, I’m sure that the average member of the public would not give a second thought to whether Joe was 5ft 5in or 6ft 2in tall.  

An accurate if not fleeting glance at Marilyn’s life, Dresser peppers the proceeding with Marilyn quotes that fall naturally and in the right places. During the dance choreography, implied sexual acts/abuse/mauling take place between Marilyn, the Kennedy’s and Sinatra, Lawford etc, it’s very neatly and slickly performed and almost over before you realise what the subtext is telling you. For the uninitiated this is a great introduction to Marilyn Monroe – it’s not overly sentimental. Marilyn comes across stronger than you would expect, less of the victim, not so naive but still vulnerable. There is no time to get bored; it’s fast paced, lively and punctuated with some interesting songs.  

Unfortunately, the ending lets the play down somewhat as the three Marilyns simultaneously expire; it’s almost as if all the energy went into the songs and the ending was a last minute thought, so much so, all they could do was to flake out. Although it seems unlikely that we will ever know how Marilyn Monroe died, with a bit of poetic licence I think the ending could be more revealing! 

Unlike my exit from Marilyn and Ella I didn't feel as though I had just been mugged, I left The Marilyn Monroe Show feeling excited for the potential, having enjoyed the moment and I can truthfully say I felt I had more than value for money on my ticket price. Give the current costumes to a charity shop and start again, take another look at casting (with the definite exception of Evelyn Connors) then re-write the ending and in my ever so humble opinion it’s a West End hit!