The Unremarkable of Death of Marilyn Monroe : Dyad Productions
Assembly 3, George Square 13:10 1st-12th, 14th-26th August
This is a simply stunning production and has to be one of the must see performances of the Festival. The opening scene is reminiscent of many a teenage girls bedroom with bits ‘n’ bobs scattered about. Then ‘Marilyn’ wakes and commences HER story, as opposed to what the press of the day was happily putting to print.
Peter Lawford, Bobby Kennedy, Clarke Gable, Liz Taylor, Lawrence Olivier, Joan Crawford, plus several other actors from Hollywood’s supposed golden era get cited with varying degrees of warmth & coolness. Marilyn’s commentary on the behind the scenes goings on is delivered with equal measure of sharp humour and misery. Marilyn’s marriages to Arthur Miller, Joe DiMaggio, Jim Dougherty, their very different set-ups and her role within them play a focal part in this truly captivating enactment.
This is a wonderfully written piece of theatre, which is beautifully acted. Subtle use of lighting, unconscious pill popping, occasional interaction with the audience, all perfectly enhance the situation and draw you into Marilyn’s world of confusion, girly fun, abuse and anguish.
Anyone with an interest in celebrity, scandal or the life-story of one of a great movie icon (particularly teenagers with fame ambitions), should attend this show, plus those who enjoy a very well scripted production.
The anguish brought about by miscarriages and an ectopic pregnancy bring a depth of poignancy rarely witnessed in theatrical creation but even that is left in the wake of the revelation of coping with abuse as a child, at this point the onlookers are stunned into total silence at this point and you could have heard a pin-drop as Marilyn re-lives her harrowing experience.
The hour and twenty minutes of this show passes in a flash, which is surely a good sign. A stellar solo performance of a fantastic piece of writing means this show is a standout production that is deserving of higher billing in this years Festival. Nicholas Parsons is on record as saying “this is the best thing at this year’s Fringe”, from what I’ve see so far I wholeheartedly agree with him.
5 out of 5
Submitted by James Stevenson
