Mae West: A Camera Lucida

Starring Australian actress Melita Jurisic as the American icon MAE WEST, a new play “Arbus and West” was onstage in Melbourne until March 30th. Naturally, Mae would have stipulated that her name was placed first in the title. Let’s enjoy a spirited review by drama critic Robert Reid. This is Part 11.
• • “Arbus and West” — — A one-way gladiatorial battle • •
• • Verbal fencing between superstitious Mae West and Diane Arbus • •
• • Robert Reid wrote: After an hour or so of verbal fencing between West and Arbus, the first act takes a fairly hard right turn just before interval that colours everything that has gone before and informs much of what comes next.
• • Robert Reid wrote: Although it never develops into much more than a pre-interval shocker, there are light touches in the second act that support West’s insistence that Arbus is the mouthpiece for this ghost. It doesn’t resolve; it’s left hanging, haunting the stage, and adds little to our understanding of either woman.
• • Arbus as a camera lucida for Mae West • • . . .
• • To be continued on the next post.
• • Source: Witness, stage review; published on Wednesday, 6 March 2019.
• • On Monday, 16 April 1934 • •
• • Here's what Mae was doing on Monday, 16 April 1934, during the height of the Depression: the Paramount Pictures star had ordered and signed for a 1934 V-12 Cadillac Town Cabriolet. The specifications indicated: a black chassis; wire wheels; the top (or roof) in Landau black leather; upholstery in black leather.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • "Court Tilt Won by Mae West" was the headline in The Los Angeles Times on 16 April 1947.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "My mother continued to encourage me to write a play that I would star in."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • Billboard mentioned Mae West.
• • "TV Satire Series for Mae West" • •

• • Hollywood, California April 24 — First six scripts of a proposed 26-episode tele-film series starring Mae West in satires on famous romantic heroines of history and literature have been completed by the actress and William LeBaron, who will produce the series. The latter is due in New York City early next week to conduct negotiations for national sponsorship.
• • The six scripts already completed and ready for the cameras are half-hour episodes based on incidents in the lives of Priscilla and John Alden, Camille and Armand, Cleopatra, Madame DuBarry, Fatima, and Lady Hamilton. …
• • Illustrator: Frank Gordon
• • Source: Billboard Magazine's issue dated for Saturday, 1 May 1954
• • The evolution of 2 Mae West plays that keep her memory alive • • 
• • A discussion with Mae West playwright LindaAnn LoSchiavo — — 
• • http://lideamagazine.com/renaissance-woman-new-york-city-interview-lindaann-loschiavo/

• • The Mae West Blog celebrates its 14th anniversary • •  

• • Thank you for reading, sending questions, and posting comments during these past fourteen years. Not long ago, we entertained 3,497 visitors. And we reached a milestone recently when we completed 4,100 blog posts. Wow!  

• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started fourteen years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 4192nd 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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• • Photo: • • Mae West • • in 1935 • •
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