Comments on: Marilyn and Ella at Theatre Royal Stratford

By: West Is West – review (Theatre)

West Is West – review (Theatre) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 12:52:08 +0000

[...] is East was a stage play which I saw at the Theatre Royal Stratford some time in the 90s. So here’s a review not of the theatre but of a new film West is [...]

By: Andy Roberts

Andy Roberts — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:37:30 +0000

Bonnie Greer’s new musical drama, Marilyn and Ella, which premiered at the Theatre Royal Stratford East early last year, will be staged at the West End’s Apollo Theatre on November 15, 22 and 29, 2009.

By: Sandra Shevey

Sandra Shevey — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 17:24:17 +0000

Thank you Gloria. If you know any producers- stage, screen or tv- who want to develop a decent account of Marilyn`s life using the oral histories conducted with those who knew her (and where friends of mine) I`d be most obliged.

`The Marilyn Scandal` has served purposes other than my own, sadly. And what they expropriate always ends up projecting an unfair, biased, and sensational account of Marilyn`s life.

The biography is in reissue and can be accessed via Dawson Books online.

Sandra

By: Gloria

Gloria — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 08:26:26 +0000

I happens many times that the personal experience is very different from the reviews. I understand that it is a small production and maybe you’re right on the enemies thing. I didn’t know this part about Marilyn Monroe life so I want to thank you for the information

By: Sandra Shevey

Sandra Shevey — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 13:25:53 +0000

This was not the only time that Marilyn put her career on the line. She broke the colour bar as she broke the red bar when she married Arthur Miller whom she stuck by during the HUAC hearings.

Furthermore as my reissued Marilyn Monroe biography, `The Marilyn Scandal`, asserts- she was very close to actor John Garfield when he came to New York following HUAC`s smear and the breakdown of his Hollywood career.

There real comparison is between Dorothy Dandridge and Marilyn Monroe as two `sex symbols` who dealt with stardom in different ways but who both ended as (alleged) suicides.

There were others, like Marilyn, who supported civil rights. I myself profiled a number of Black artists in the 60s and 70s when this was not particularly encouraged.

By: Andy Roberts

Andy Roberts — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 08:04:32 +0000

Thanks very much for your comment Paul. Your comment about not having a narrow policical agenda interests me because the play does lean quite strongly on some political themes as well as the obvious anti racist one. Marilyn Munroe’s role in helping to tip off the victims of McCarthy’s anti-communist witch-hunts is explicit, and that’s another historical facet which is not generally part of the legend.

Have you seen the show yet?
We enjoyed it very much and so did the packed audience so we were then quite shocked afterwards to read some terrible reviews heavily criticising the script and the production. I get the impression that Bonnie Greer might have made some enemies with the mainstream media at some point.

Here’s Linda’s roundup and review:

http://usefulwiki.com/londontheatre/marilyn-and-ella.html

By: Paul

Paul — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 16:54:14 +0000

Your comment about the Theatre Royal ” the raison d’etre for local theatre has moved more towards serving the perceived needs of the local community, a community which arguably doesn’t really exist except from a political or funding point of view.” is spot on. What does still exist is the community that once waited eagerly for all the productions at the Theatre Royal ( and there were always more than one a year ) including the great Pantos. That’s why we will welcome a production like Marilyn and Ella at the Theatre Royal to see a show in which we understand the dialogue and the cultural and historical nuances and not have a narrow political agenda rammed home. The number of old friends who just leapt at the chance to go back to Stratford will help make this another Theatre Royal hit.