Mae West: Image as Prison

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 3.
• • “Arbus and West” — — A one-way gladiatorial battle • •
• • The impersonation of Mae West • •
• • Robert Reid wrote: The impersonation of Mae West by Melita Jurisic in particular becomes convincing, as both actor and character begin to relax their well-constructed facades. Supported by her dresser and assistant Ruby (Jennifer Vuletic), West is initially suspicious of the younger woman, Arbus (Diana Glenn); the two women manoeuvre around the photographer, coy and wary. West has a carefully constructed image to maintain; not only the image of her that her public has constructed but the one she has built for herself.

• • Robert Reid wrote: Arbus contends that West’s image is more prison than liberation. To Arbus, Mae West is a woman caged by her fantasies of freedom, trapped by the desire of men behind bars of isolation and loneliness while telling herself all these things have been her own decisions.
• • Icon vs young outsider • • . . . 
• • To be continued on the next post.
• • Source: Witness, stage review; published on Wednesday, 6 March 2019.
• • On Monday, 5 April 1954 • •
• • The death of James Timony on Monday, 5 April 1954 was announced in The L.A. Times on April 6th. Mae was prostrated by grief at the death of her long-term companion, the man who guided her rise to fame and fortune.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Billy Sunday, the evangelist, told Mae West that if she ever quit acting, she would be a sensation in the pulpit.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: “The wages of sin are sables and a film contract.”
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • Motion Picture mentioned Mae West.
• • Frank Morley wrote: That famous sex-appeal expert, Mae West, is working under wraps, apparently, in "She Done Him Wrong," which she also wrote — but she'll find a way to take your attention away from the showgirls!
• • Source: Motion Picture; issue dated for March 1933
• • 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 4184th 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/
________
Source: https://maewest.blogspot.com/atom.xml   
Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • photo by Diane Arbus, 1965 • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest
NYC  Mae West