Monday, September 16, 2013

Mae West: 6 Trunk Loads

MAE WEST must be smiling.  Not  only has the weather in New York City (her hometown) been perfectly lovely so far during the run of "Diamond Lil," but the people who come to see a performance are truly delightful.
• • Two young ladies from Scotland, who have been bunking at a hostel located on the Bowery, were thrilled beyond words to discover that "Diamond Lil" is set on the Bowery in the 1890s.
• • One of our raffle prize-winners, Sarah R. Biscente, took the microphone to thank her high school classmate, actress Joanna Bonaro for inviting her to the play. Ms. Biscente and Ms. Bonaro had just renewed their friendship in March, thanks to the Internet.• • Joanna Bonaro plays two roles in this "drama of the underworld": sex trafficker Rita from Rio and also Frances, a friend of Diamond Lil.
• • On Saturday, 16 September 1911 • •
• • Variety reviewed the cabaret show (issue dated for Saturday, 16 September 1911) while "A la Broadway" was still in rehearsal.  Choreographer Ned Wayburn got Mae West, who studied dance with him, into the cast.
• • On Monday, 16 September 1928 • •
• • Mae West's play "Pleasure Man" opened on a Monday evening on 16 September 1928 at the Bronx Opera House in New York City.
• • See "Diamond Lil" This Autumn! • •
• • By popular demand, actress Darlene Violette — — and the wonderful cast who brought the Bowery denizens and Suicide Hall’s ne’er-do-wells to life — — will return in “Diamond Lil” for several evening performances at Don’t Tell Mama [343 W. 46th Street] on these dates in 2013:
• • 7:00pm on Sunday September 15th and 22nd. 
• • 7:30pm on Sunday October 27th — Hallowe'en Party — come in 1890s costume!
• • 7:00pm on Sunday November 3rd — vote for Gus Jordan for Sheriff Night.
• • 8:30pm on Sunday November 10th
• • 7:00pm on Sunday November 17th
• • 7:00pm on Sunday November 24th
• • Phone after 4pm to reserve a seat: 212-757-0788; RSVP online: www.donttellmamanyc.com
• • Closest MTA subway stations: 42nd St./ Times Sq. via A, C, E, 1, 2, 3 
• • The public is invited (suitable for age 18 and over). Join us as we turn the iconic NYC nightspot Don't Tell Mama into Gus Jordan's "Suicide Hall"! 
• • The Cast: Starring Darlene Violette as Diamond Lil, Queen of the Bowery and also featuring Sidney Myer, Anthony DiCarlo, Joanna Bonaro, Gary Napoli, Juan Sebastian Cortes, Kimmy Foskett, Jim Gallagher and live music by Brian McInnis
• • Director: Co-directed by Dena Tyler, The Actors Studio, and Darlene Violette.
• • Come up and see for yourself. You might even win a swell Raffle Prize.
• • Read a Review of "Diamond Lil" • •
• • L'Idea Magazine's editors attended four times and had a lot to say. Here's the link: http://www.lideamagazine.com/usa-still-entertaining-mae-wests-diamond-lil-makes-new-fans-in-new-york-city/
• • Staying faithful to the gritty themes in the novel, LindaAnn Loschiavo trimmed the work to 85 minutes for a cast of eight.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "I'll never play sad parts, dumb parts or 'wronged' heroines. I feel sorry for weak women, but I cannot like them."
• • Mae West said: "If a gal has her legs covered up she can concentrate on her hips and bust — — and so can a fella."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • The Barrier Miner announced the British tour of "Diamond Lil."
• • "Mae West On Way for London Show" • •
• • This jolly headline appeared in a few Australian publications on Tuesday, 16 September 1947.  Fans were informed that the Hollywood icon was sailing to England on the Queen Mary to begin assembling a British cast for "Diamond Lil."  
• • However, the news reached Down Under a bit late; Mae and Jim Timony had already set sail for Southampton, England on 11 September 1947. They arrived at their destination on Wednesday the 17th.
• • The Barrier Miner reported: Mae West is bringing six trunk loads of personal clothing and two more trunks of other dresses to wear in the play.  She owns a small fortune in jewellery and is bringing half a dozen bracelets and necklets to wear on stage.  She values one piece alone at £12,000.  ...
• • The plan was that Mae West would audition new cast members, rehearse, get the costumes and a moveable set made, and then route "Diamond Lil" though Manchester, Blackpool, Birmingham, and Glasgow before opening in London by January 1948.
• • Source: Article in The Barrier Miner; published on Tuesday, 16 September 1947
• • By the Numbers • • 
• • The Mae West Blog was started nine years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2742nd blog post. Unlike many blogs, which draw upon reprinted content from a newspaper or a magazine and/ or summaries, links, or photos, the mainstay of this blog is its fresh material focused on the life and career of Mae West, herself an American original.

• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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• • Mae West Diamond Lil returned for Mae's birthday

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