Gwen Overland has written a song-stuffed show about MAE WEST and this production will preview this week on Thursday, 16 September 2010 in "The Beaver State" — — and hold that snicker, beaver buffs.• • A local reporter Teresa Thomas interviewed the performer for The Ashland Daily Tidings and her very interesting article appears below. If you plan to see this show, let us know.
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• • Teresa Thomas writes: The brassy and flamboyant Mae West was once quoted saying, "If I asked for a cup of coffee, someone would search for the double meaning."
• • An actress, singer and sex symbol of the early 20th century, West was recognized for her clever humor and bawdy double entendres, as well as for her strong personality as a liberated female.
• • "She never showed any skin, used swear words or mentioned any body parts," says Gwen Overland, who stars as West in Camelot Theatre's "Spotlight on Mae West." "She knew how to not say anything and get the full message across."
• • The production previews Thursday, 16 September 2010, and runs at 8 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and at 2 p.m. Sundays through 26 September 2010.
• • Gwen Overland wrote the script for the production, which will feature some narration, a short biography, 18 songs sung and popularized by West, as well as two radio snippets from when West appeared on "The Chesterfield Supper Club," an NBC music radio program hosted by Perry Como.
• • According to Gwen Overland: Of the 18 songs featured in the spotlight, Mae West wrote "Put Off Till Tomorrow," and "That's All, Brother, That's All." Other scores featured include "Come Up and See Me Sometime," "My Old Flame" and "They Call Me Sister Honky Tonk."
• • "She could sing anything that had a vaudeville, comic twist," says Overland.
• • West's music demonstrated her impeccable timing and musicianship and her marked Brooklyn accent, says Overland.
• • West was born in 1893 to John Patrick West, a boxer turned detective, and Matilda Doelger, a corset model. As a youth, she was a vaudeville performer before appearing on Broadway in 1911. Later, she began writing her own risqué plays, including "Sex," a notorious production critics hated and the box office loved. She also penned "The Drag," "The Wicked Age," "Pleasure Man," "The Constant Sinner" and "Diamond Lil."
• • West made her film debut in 1932 in "Night After Night," starring George Raft. She starred in several films in the 1930s and early '40s, including "She Done Him Wrong" and "I'm No Angel," both starring Cary Grant, as well as "My Little Chickadee" with W.C. Fields.
• • "She broke into a business primarily dominated by men and was very successful in it," says Overland.
• • In the third chapter of her career, West was a nightclub performer and appeared as a guest performer on radio and television. In 1978, at the age of 85, West starred in her final film, "Sextette."
• • "I'm just amazed that she could have an 80-year career and keep the same image and at the same time reinvent herself," says Overland. "She kept the audience curious, which is kind of provocative in itself."
• • Camelot veteran Bob Jackson Miner stars as Perry Como and the narrator. Musical direction is by Mark Reppert, Camelot's resident musical director. Accompanying Overland are Kevin Piquette on trumpet, Reppert on keyboards, Peter Spring on woodwinds, and Steve Sutfin on drums.
• • Overland appeared in Camelot's production of "Cabaret" and more recently directed "Moon Over Buffalo."
• • Tickets to "Spotlight on Mae West" are now being sold. For more details online: see www.camelottheatre.org.
• • If you go — —
• • What: "Spotlight on Mae West ... a Little Biography and a Lot of Music"
• • When: September 16th — 26th
• • Where: Camelot Theatre, 101 Talent Avenue, Talent, Oregon 97540
• • Tickets: phone 541-535-5250
— — Source: — —
• • Article: "'Spotlight on Mae West' — — Camelot presents the life and music of the singer, actress, comedian, and sex symbol"
• • By: Teresa Thomas
• • Published in: The Ashland Daily Tidings — — www.dailytidings.com
• • Published on: 9 September 2010
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• • “Spotlight on Mae West” features 18 songs, including “St. Louis Woman,” “I Wanna Go Home With You,” “Now I’m a Lady,” “I’m in the Mood for Love,” “My Old Flame,” “Pardon Me for Loving and Running” and, of course, “Come Up and See Me Sometime.”
• • Though Mae West recorded "That's All Brother, That's All" in 1935, Smiley Burnette [1911 — 1967], the stage name of the actor and singer Lester Alvin Burnette, always took credit for writing it; Burnette also recorded it on a few of his albums.
• • "Spotlight on Mae West" previews at 8 p.m., Thursday 16 September 2010, opens Friday, 17 September and runs through 26 September 2010. Performances are on the weekend: Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.
• • Tell them you heard about it on the MAE WEST BLOG.
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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