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Preserving the Memory of Marilyn Monroe with Dignity and Grace

Posts Tagged with review

REVIEW: “I’M NOT MARILYN” AT THE EDINBURGH FESTIVAL FRINGE
Published August 8, 2019

REVIEW: “I’M NOT MARILYN” AT THE EDINBURGH FESTIVAL FRINGE

“My thoughts go to sweet Marilyn Monroe who has inspired me on this quest.” Viviana Zarbo

The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is an annual event in the capital city of Scotland, showcasing talents in all the major entertainment fields: music, comedy, theatre and dance.  Throughout the years, there have been an array of productions about Marilyn Monroe being preformed at The Fringe, usually only focusing on the tragic side of the blonde actress and only ever being portrayed as the breathy, wiggly, giggly caricature in a badly fitting blonde wig and cheap white dress.  This endless fascination with Marilyn’s untimely death and peoples need to constantly dramatise the night of August 4th 1962 always leaves the fans thinking.. “but what about her incredible LIFE?”

Enter singer Viviana Zarbo, who dared to think differently.

The synopsis of the show reads:

“Andy Warhol’s paintings, JFK’s birthday song, NYC subway grate upskirt, the list goes on. Marilyn’s icon is a blend of innocence and feminine sexuality. Despite her bombshell fame, Marilyn contributed to setting the standards of the jazz and swing golden age. 57 years after her death, Viviana Zarbo, who has had a lifelong fascination with the star, reinterprets her songs composed by geniuses like Cole Porter and Irving Berlin, in a personal way and devoid of clichés. By intertwining tales about Marilyn’s life with her own, Viviana recounts how her life was shaped by Marilyn’s songs.”

In “I Am Not Marilyn,” the title speaks for itself.  Zarbo has created a show dedicated to Monroe, but there isn’t a trace of the blonde stereotype on stage before you.  What you see before you is a proper, loving tribute to Marilyn’s talents as a singer. No gimmicks, no nothing… just an incredibly talented singer paying tribute to her idol.  Viviana is accompanied on stage by two very talented musicians, Chris Neill on piano and Stephanie Legg on Saxophone, both complimenting her sweet, sultry, velvet tones and we’re treated to beautiful renditions of Monroe’s finest songs such as “Diamonds Are A Girls Best Friend,” “I Wannabe Loved By You,” “My Heart Belongs To Daddy” and a hauntingly beautiful arrangement of “Kiss” from the movie ‘Niagara’.  Zarbo is a natural in front of an audience and looks every inch the Hollywood Goddess herself in two stunning outfit changes.  It’s a perfect way to spend an afternoon in the city, you’ll feel as if you’ve been transported back into a bygone era and hopefully anyone who attends will have a new appreciation of Marilyn Monroe as a singer and not just an icon on screen.

Chatting to Viviana after the show, you can clearly tell she has a genuine passion for Marilyn and I truly wish her the best of success with her show!

Marilyn herself once said: ” I won’t be satisfied until people want to hear me sing without looking at me”, so I like to think that Monroe would definitely give this show her approval.  You have until August 17th to catch this show, so don’t miss out!

Photo credit Holly Jane Osborne

Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/pg/vivianazarboartist/photos/?ref=page_internal
Tickets
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/i-am-not-marilyn

 

Photo credits: Copyright Holly Jane Osborne and Lorraine Nicol

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    Marilyn on the Gentlemen Prefer Blondes set with M Marilyn on the Gentlemen Prefer Blondes set with Marguerite Masi, the wife of Victor “Chic” Masi, a childhood friend of Joe DiMaggio. 
#marilyn #joedimaggio #gentlemenpreferblondes #marilynremembered #realmarilynmonroe #marilynrememberedfanclub #marilynmonroe
    ❤️The ICONIC and unforgettable "Diamonds Are A ❤️The ICONIC and unforgettable "Diamonds Are A Girls Best Friend" musical number from "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" started filming 70 years ago this week!❤️

George Chakiris, Oscar Winning Actor, was a background dancer for the number, recalled these memories of filming the legendary musical number:

“One of my favorite credits is to say that I worked behind Marilyn Monroe and I love saying that.” George remembers fondly, “ She was phenomenal. She only about twenty six when she made that film but Marilyn was an actress who was deeply concerned about her work and was very conscientious. Let me give you an example of her professionalism: If there ever was a cut for any reason, she never went back to her trailer to check her makeup. She’d be there on her starting mark and ready for the next shot."

"Jack Cole was clearly Marilyn's favourite choreographer.  She loved him and he was absolutely perfect for her.  He was one of the great choreographers not only for film but for the stage as well, and for the musical numbers he took over the direction.  The work was very demanding and he was very demanding. 

We rehearsed three weeks or more for the 'Diamonds' sequence, and it took three days to shoot.  The last day they went overtime, because Jack had to go back to New York to do a show, so instead of working until 6pm, I believe we worked up until 9pm, and then Jack raced off to the airport.."
#marilynmonroe #georgechakiris #jackcole #marilynremembered #marilynrememberedfanclub #marilyn #diamondsareagirlsbestfriend #realmarilynmonroe
    A less common photo of Marilyn from 1952 #marilynm A less common photo of Marilyn from 1952
#marilynmonroe #realmarilynmonroe #marilynremembered #marilynrememberedfanclub #marilyn #1950s #1950style
    ⭐️HAPPY BIRTHDAY CLARK GABLE!⭐️ Happy bir ⭐️HAPPY BIRTHDAY CLARK GABLE!⭐️

Happy birthday to the one and only King of Hollywood, Clark Gable on what would have been his 122nd birthday.

Marilyn spoke about her time working with Gable on the set of The Misfits:
“The place was full of so-called men, but Clark was the only one who brought a chair for me between takes. He never got angry with me once for blowing a line or being late or anything — he was a gentlemen. The best.”

Gable was equally as complimentary about Marilyn, he once said:
"Marilyn is a kind of ultimate.  She is uniquely feminine.  Everything she does is different, strange and exciting, from the way she talks to the way she uses that magnificent torso.  She makes a man proud to be a man.”

After Clark’s death on Novemeber 16th, 1960, Marilyn was quoted as saying:
“Clark Gable was one of the finest men I ever met. He was one of the most decent human beings anyone could have encountered anywhere. He was an excellent guy to work with. Knowing him and working with him was a great personal joy. I send all my love to and deepest sympathy to his wife, Kay.”

Happy Birthday Clark, forever the King of Hollywood.
#marilynmonroe #clarkgable #king #longlivetheking #oldhollywood #classichollywood #realmarilynmonroe #marilyn #birthday #marilynremembered #marilynrememberedfanclub #gable #hollywoodhistory
    Happy Heavenly Birthday David Wayne! (January 30th Happy Heavenly Birthday David Wayne! (January 30th 1914 - 9th February 1995.)

David Wayne was an American stage and screen actor with a career spanning over 50 years.  Marilyn fans will recognise him as being her most frequent co-star, sharing the billing with Marilyn in no less than 4 of her movies: 
"As Young As You Feel"
"We're Not Married!"
"O Henry's Full House"
"How To Marry A Millionaire"

With little or no screen time shared in "As Young As You Feel" and "O Henry's Full House," they were on screen lovers in "We're Not Married!" and "How To Marry A Millionaire."

Wayne was quoted as saying (on her performance in "How To Marry A Millionaire")
"Negulesco (the Director) was very good with her and handled her beautifully.  Of course she was always late, but I don't think either Betty Grable or Lauren Bacall minded her.  They were tough old pros and knew their business.  There again, I also recall Marilyn being quite capable in her scenes with the other two girls.  I wasn't necessarily in the scene with them, but I'd sit next to Negulesco and watch the three of them work and by that time I thought that Marilyn had got a little technique under her belt."

Happy birthday David! 😃
#marilynmonroe #davidwayne #oldhollywood #classichollywood #realmarilynmonroe #marilyn #marilynremembered #marilynrememberedfanclub
    This is what a Queen looks like walking down the s This is what a Queen looks like walking down the street.
#marilyn #realmarilynmonroe #marilynremembered #marilynrememberedfanclub #marilynmonroe
    ❤️ Rest In Peace photographer George S. Zimbel ❤️ Rest In Peace photographer George S. Zimbel ❤️

George spoke about his time photographing Marilyn on the set of the "Seven Year Itch" in 1954 and recalled this:

“Finally when they started filming, (Joe ) DiMaggio walked right off the set, right in the middle of the film shoot, right in front of the camera, everything stopped... And that's where I had my favourite photograph of serious Marilyn, she just stopped.  And the light is just coming down, light, light, light, light right on top of her head and it's all black except for her.  It was a heavy moment.”

Quote taken from the fantastic documentary: "Marilyn: Still Life."
#marilyn #realmarilynmonroe #joedimaggio #thesevenyearitch #sevenyearitch #marilynmonroe #marilynremembered #marilynrememberedfanclub
    ❤️ George S. Zimbel Appreciation post ❤️ ❤️ George S. Zimbel Appreciation post ❤️

With the sad news of Mr Zimbel's passing, let's show love for some of his stunning photographs of Marilyn, taken on the night of September 1954 in New York, whilst the filming of the famous 'upskirt' scene from "The Seven Year Itch" was taking place.

For more photos, check out his website:

https://georgezimbel.com/
#marilyn #realmarilynmonroe #thesevenyearitch #sevenyearitch #marilynremembered #marilynrememberedfanclub #marilynmonroe
    ❤️ HAPPY 7OTH BIRTHDAY "NIAGARA" ❤️ Maril ❤️ HAPPY 7OTH BIRTHDAY "NIAGARA" ❤️

Marilyn Monroe enjoyed a good working relationship with her co-stars, in particular with her leading man, Joseph Cotten: 

“I enjoyed her company. I enjoyed working with her,” Cotten said  about working with Marilyn Monroe in her first starring role. He said  she had an appetite for laughter and was aware of her sense of humor  describing her as a “pretty clown.  Cotten recalls hearing about her  death and receiving a phone call from the Associated Press for a  comment. “At first I was sure it had to be an accident. Such buoyancy  of spirit, such sparkling anticipation, such a happy and comic attitude  would deny support to any theory,” he wrote. “But she had such moments  of fear and insecurity….As to all the other furtive theories-cover-up,  murder, etc. – I have no knowledge or interest in such sordidness. I  knew and acted with Marilyn Monroe. I am proud of having that  privilege.”
#marilyn #josephcotten #niagara #marilynremembered #marilynrememberedfanclub #marilynmonroe #realmarilynmonroe
    ❤️ HAPPY 70TH 'NIAGARA' ❤️ "Do you walk i ❤️ HAPPY 70TH 'NIAGARA' ❤️

"Do you walk in real life the way you do in 'Niagara?' "

Marilyn: "I never think about the way I walk.  But since I was playing a certain type of girl in the picture who was not myself, and since the way I walked helped emphasize her, I walked as I did.
I'm sure my real-life walk is not exactly the same."
#marilyn #niagara #marilynremembered #marilynrememberedfanclub #realmarilynmonroe
    <3 HAPPY 70TH BIRTHDAY 'NIAGARA' <3 These stunnin <3 HAPPY 70TH BIRTHDAY 'NIAGARA' <3

These stunning costumes from the movie 'Niagara,' (screen worn and used in publicity photos) have been auctioned in recent years.
#marilyn #marilynremembered #marilynrememberedfanclub #marilynremonroe #niagara #costumetest #costume #costumedesign
    ❤️ HAPPY 70TH 'NIAGARA' ❤️ Which of these ❤️ HAPPY 70TH 'NIAGARA' ❤️
Which of these screen worn outfits that Marilyn wears in "Niagara" is your favourite?
#marilynmonroe #niagara #filmnoir #realmarilynmonroe #marilynremembered #marilynrememberedfanclub #marilyn
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