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REVIEW: “ONE NIGHT WITH MARILYN”
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REVIEW: “ONE NIGHT WITH MARILYN”

“ONE NIGHT WITH MARILYN”

   At the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2023, review by Lorraine Nicol

STAR RATING: — — — ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ — — – 5/5

 

This review comes a little late. I had started writing it just when the news of the impending demolition of Marilyn Monroe’s 12305 5th Helena Drive home hit the news. Like a lot of you, it felt like the Marilyn world had stopped turning and any joy and elation that I had over this fantastic show just disappeared… I couldn’t bring myself to write about such a fun and joyous night when my stomach was feeling physically sick at the thought of what could happen to such an iconic Los Angeles landmark.
But now I feel in a much better place and I can now sit down and give this show the love and attention it so definitely deserves.
*I’d like to point out that I saw this show on the second last night of its two-week run, so even though this review is belated, the show’s run in Edinburgh would have finished by the time I got the review out anyway.
“One Night With Marilyn” starring the beautiful Isabella Bliss, is a one hour, one woman show and is labelled as: Cabaret and Variety (musical theatre, tribute)

The description of the show says:

A laugh-out-loud, immersive, comedic, heartfelt tribute to Hollywood’s most iconic blonde bombshell. The show will take you on a journey through the life of the silver screen’s brightest star. What does it mean to be a sex symbol? Is she looking for a husband? And what really happened with the president? Honest, funny and captivating. One Night with Marilyn is everything you want from a close-up experience in an evening with the star. Sing the songs, share a drink, and experience Marilyn. ‘A wonderful imitation and celebration of a true Hollywood icon’ (Denise Van-Outen)

As I have mentioned in previous reviews, I am always a little wary when it comes to shows on Marilyn, I have seen my fair share of them now (most of them from the Edinburgh Festival Fringe as it happens..) and most of them have been horrendous. I’ll cut to the chase… this show was FABULOUS!

Isabella looks every inch the classic Hollywood Goddess, as she appears on stage in full Marilyn hair and make up and wore a wonderful re-creation of the White “Seven Year Itch” dress.
Instantly she bursts into song: “Some Like It Hot..” which is a song that very rarely gets the attention it deserves, so I knew right off the bat that this show had instant brownie points from me!

Isabella has a lovely singing voice and sings a variety of Marilyn’s songs (“Some Like It Hot” “I Wannabe loved by you” “Two Little Girls From Little Rock” “My Heart Belongs to Daddy” “I’m Thru With Love”“Diamonds Are A Girls Best Friend.”) as well as a couple other retro inspired songs to fit in with the shows narrative “Why don’t you do right?” and “L.O.V.E”

Although the show is labelled as a one-woman show, there was a lot of audience participation.. I myself even participated! Isabella would ask the audience questions about Marilyn “How many times was she married?” “Who was her co-star in “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes?” “What is next to Marilyn’s Star on the Walk Of Fame?”…… to all of which I would enthusiastically raise my hand and shout out the answer! It was a running joke to the point where at the end of the show Isabella quipped “I hope you have all learned something about Marilyn tonight…. (pointing to me) well apart from you, as you’ve known everything!”and the audience laughed! And it was that quick wit that she had that reminded me so much of Marilyn’s!

As I said, one of the questions that was asked was “How many husbands did I have?” because “Marilyn” was now on the look out for a 4thhusband! And the audience had to help choose between two willing (and probably slightly nervous!!) audience members!! The winner was chosen and he got to be serenaded “My Heart Belongs To Daddy”to by “Marilyn.” The crowd (and especially the gentleman!!) LOVED it!

Another form of the audience participation was getting someone to help recreate the famous “Seven Year Itch” upskirt scene.. as you can see from the photos, the gentleman was DEFINITELY getting into it and the audience went crazy! He was a natural! “Marilyn” quipped that the budget for the show was so low, that she was going to have to lie underneath him and use a hair-dryer to blow his skirt up!
I’ll be honest, when I read the reviews of this show, I was a little nervous about this part.. but I promise you, it was done in SUCH great humour! The whole audience was loving it, Marilyn wasn’t being made to look like a joke, because we were ALL, including Marilyn.. in on the joke!

Another fantastic touch was when Isabella asked the audience to raise their glasses and she quoted the toast from “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes:”

“There was an old fellow named Sidney,
Who drank ’til he ruined a kidney.

He drank and he drank and it shrivelled and shrank..
He had his fun doing it… didn’t he?!”

(both my sister and I just turned and looked at eachother and went “yeah.. that was a really cool reference to put in there.”)Some more audience participation came when 4 lovely ladies took to the stage to spell out the letters “L.O.V.E” in a fun rendition of the song!!

I cannot stress enough how much love Isabella put into her portrayal of Marilyn. Yes she was wearing the stereotypical White Halterneck dress, but she was showcasing EVERYTHING that is so iconic and legendary about our girl. Isabella was funny and witty… charismatic and charming.. she had the audience in the palm of her hand. Everything that you saw on stage was done with love and a cheeky wink!

At the end of the show, Isabella came out of her “Marilyn” persona and spoke as herself.. She came out of character to talk about how Marilyn should be celebrated for who she is, not always relying on tragic side, we should be championing her… She hated “Blonde,” (urgh, didn’t we all?!)and steered people towards the brilliant “Reframed” the latest documentary on Marilyn’s life and career.

Isabella’s love for Marilyn shines through and I urge you to see this show if it ever comes near your town.

If you would like to follow Isabella on social media, here are her accounts:

Socials:

https://www.isabellabliss.co.uk/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/miss_isabella_bliss/?hl=en
REVIEW: “NORMA” AT THE EDINBURGH FESTIVAL FRINGE
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REVIEW: “NORMA” AT THE EDINBURGH FESTIVAL FRINGE


​The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is an annual event in the city showcasing talents in all the major entertainment fields: Music, Comedy, Dance and Theatre. The city is crammed with tourists, street performers, stalls, daily shows.. the atmosphere is electric!

Most years, they always seem to have a Marilyn themed show and this year was no exception.  “Norma” made its debut  Edinburgh Festival Fringe performance on August 15th 2023 and our very own Lorraine Nicol attended the performance and has shared her thoughts.

The description of the show is as follows:

“Norma Jeane Mortenson (more famously known as Marilyn Monroe) once reportedly said, ‘it takes a smart brunette to play a dumb blonde’. This one-woman show aims to challenge the way Monroe has been portrayed by the media after her death while also aiming to be the most historically accurate (as possible) play about her life and imagines what she might think about of all the media that has been created about her, including the controversial Netflix film Blonde from 2022. Norma is a show that celebrates Norma Jeane, her intelligence, her wit, her heart and her incredible strength.”

Review from Marilyn Remembered’s Lorraine Nicol:

“Having seen so many Marilyn themed plays and performances which have ranged from brilliant, to quite frankly.. hideous.. I’m always a little wary of what I am walking into when I attend one.

However, I was intrigued by the idea that the play would focus on her image in the media after her death and the promise of it being the “most historically accurate” play on Monroe’s life.. that’s quite a statement!  So I was hoping it would live up to it.

The play started with the lights dimmed and the actress portraying Marilyn (Olivia Denton) had her back turned to the audience, whilst a spotlight shone on her.  “I wannabe Loved By You” started playing, which then turned into the famous audio clip of Peter Lawford introducing Marilyn on stage the night of the “Happy Birthday Mr President” performance… it then quickly cut to a clip of Kim Kardashian talking about her experience wearing/destroying the same dress in 2022 (let’s not go there) and a montage of other notables talking about Marilyn in the past and present tense.

The lights come up and Olivia Denton is in full Marilyn get up.  Her make-up is beautiful, but I do feel she could have invested in a better wig and this is one of several Marilyn plays I have seen where she is portrayed telling her life story from the afterlife only wearing a white bath robe.. why is that?  Why does that seem to be the go-to outfit?  I would much prefer if they had her in slacks and a pucci style top, as was her choice of wardrobe before she passed away in 1962.. it would still give that relaxed style and feel they would be looking for…
However this is all very nit-picky.. as I say, Olivia Denton on the whole looked beautiful and sounded great too, as she really had a good grip on Marilyn’s voice and mannerisms.

“Marilyn” briefly starts off by mentioning a few things related to her that have (rightly or wrongly) made an impact around the world like the Netflix drama “Blonde” that was released in 2022.. (she thankfully announces to the audience that the film was a complete work of fiction and utter nonsense) and the contoversy surrounding the giant 26ft “Forever Marilyn” statue in Palm Springs.. protestors arguing that it shows a clear view of Monroe’s backside and underwear and has been called sexist by critics... “Marilyn” simply brushes it off, quoting “if I’m going to be a symbol of something, I’d rather have it sex than some other things they’ve got symbols of.”  (which Marilyn herself did actually say in 1962 during an interview for LIFE Magazine.)

“Marilyn” then takes you through a quick re-telling of her life and whilst mainly accurate, I feel this is where the play lets itself down. Marilyn’s life story has been done so many times before, there are literally hundreds upon hundreds of books on her life and with the play being only 40 mins long, I feel this time could have been used more wisely and taken a fresh new direction.  As I say, I liked the idea of addressing how Marilyn’s legacy has been portayed in the media over the years, I would have preferred some more examples of that..  She DID however, briefly touch on the whole Kim Kardashian “Happy Birthday Mr President” Dress scandal at the end, to which I let out a massive “Boooo!” when “Marilyn” asked had anyone heard about Kim wearing the special garment.

Whilst you can tell Olivia (who also wrote the play) knows her stuff when it comes to Marilyn (accurate life details and genuine quotes throughout the performance)  I didn’t agree with her stating that Joe DiMaggio had beaten Marilyn up the night of the filming of the up-skirt scene from “The Seven Year Itch” (to which an audience member gasped “oh my god!” and that Arthur Miller’s diary entry said that he found Marilyn to be a “troublesome b**** and a w****”  Although rumour and speculation is rife, we will never know EXACTLY what was written in Arthur Miller’s journal and we will NEVER know EXACTLY what happened between Marilyn and Joe the night of the “Seven Year Itch” filming in New York, so it’s wrong to present it as fact.. as I say, this play was only 40 mins long, there are so many other aspects of Marilyn’s life and relationships with her husbands that could have been touched on.

When it came to the end of Marilyn’s life, Olivia came out of character and spoke as herself, she felt she didn’t feel it was right to speak for Marilyn in regards to her ending.  She deliberately didn’t want to address all the rumours and conspiracy theories of her death, instead reading the final lines from the childrens book of Marilyn’s life: “Little People: Big Dreams: Marilyn Monroe.”  Olivia said she felt proud as a former Teacher that Children can read about Marilyn as an inspirational person.  I really thought this was touching and very fitting end.

Olivia’s portrayal of Marilyn was a very loving and sympathetic one.. however there was no sign of her being seen as a victim here, as she was quick to point out Marilyn’s strengths, ie never having been a kept woman or a victim of the casting couch and turning down Harry Cohen’s advances, leading to her being dropped from her contract at Columbia.  She was fun, warm and vibrant and you could really feel a sense that Olivia truly IS a Marilyn fan and this was her love letter to her.”

“Norma” is on at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe until 19th August.  Tickets here: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/norma

 

Lorraine Nicol before attending the performance of “Norma” at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

CINEMASTERS: HOWARD HAWKS IN GLASGOW
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CINEMASTERS: HOWARD HAWKS IN GLASGOW

Marilyn fans in the UK are being treated to a screening of two of her most beloved classics in an up and coming retrospective to the career of director Howard Hawks.  The “Glasgow Film Theatre” in Scotland, United Kingdom will be screening “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” and “Monkey Business” throughout November.

“Howard Hawks was a true master of genre. He could turn his hand to any style of cinema, and produce a classic every time. So huge is his influence across golden era Hollywood cinema that even this series of six films can’t claim to include all his best. We couldn’t fit in The Big Sleep, Bringing Up Baby, Red River, To Have and Have Not, His Girl Friday… at least not this time. Nonetheless, this season offers an indispensable set of big screen classics. Treat yourself and don’t miss them.”

Tickets can be purchased here:  https://glasgowfilm.org/shows/cinemasters-howard-hawks

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MARILYN IN DERBY, UK

If you are in or around the DERBY area, get yourself along to QUAD Cinema, as they are screening “The Seven Year Itch” 23rd March at 3pm and “Bus Stop” April 7th at 2.30pm.

These films are being screened to compliment a new photography exhibition showcasing Marilyn Monroe lookalikes. Simply called “Marilyn” the free event is running until the 14th April.

The website says:

“The promise and the peril of the Hollywood Dream can be embodied in one person: Marilyn Monroe. It has been over half a century since her death and her image seems stronger now than ever. Many who recognize Marilyn don’t know her movies, yet they accept her as the classic example of glamor and stardom. Marilyn is the ultimate symbol of Hollywood, but also a cautionary tale of the cost of fame.

But despite the dark side of her story, she represents a place that inspires the imagination and offers a faraway glimmer of hope, generation after generation. When Emily Berl moved to Los Angeles in 2012 pursuing the Hollywood Dream, she began to notice the face of Marilyn Monroe everywhere: T-shirts, murals, magazines. Her image was so ubiquitous that it blended into everyday life.

But what Marilyn Monroe represents is not restricted to one city. All over the world, there are women who dress as her, whether as impersonators, tribute artists, or simply fans. For them, Marilyn represents an important part of their lives, for some a lifelong career, for others a focus of deep love and dedication.

The project Marilyn is a series of photographs of women who dress as Marilyn Monroe and examine the star’s endurance alongside that of the Hollywood Dream.”

For more information on opening times, head here: https://formatfestival.com/whats-on/marilyn/

To purchase tickets for “The Seven Year Itch”:
https://www.derbyquad.co.uk/whats-on/cinema/seven-year-itch-pg

And for “Bus Stop” tickets:
https://www.derbyquad.co.uk/whats-on/cinema/bus-stop-u