Mae West: Mythic Bigness

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 1.
• • “Arbus and West” — — A one-way gladiatorial battle • •
• • Witness theatre critic Robert Reid wrote: On the surface, “Arbus and West” doesn’t come across as a Stephen Sewell play, although, as it progresses, it gradually reveals its Sewell-ness. The Sewell trademarks are subtly present: the clash of ideas and ideologies, the pithy one liners, the international outlook and the turn towards the mythic are all there, some aspects more obviously than others.
• • Mythic Bigness of Mae West • •
• • Robert Reid wrote: But unlike “Myth and Propaganda” or “Hate” or “Three Furies,” the play “Arbus and West” doesn’t shout its politics at you. Instead, it insists upon itself through the mythic bigness of its central character, Mae West.
• • Robert Reid wrote: Superficially, it reminds me a little of earlier work such as Traitors, character studies that reveal deeper political realities through their combative dialogue and fleeting encounters.
• • Legendary Photo Session • •  . . .
• • To be continued on the next post.
• • Source: Witness, stage review; published on Wednesday, 6 March 2019.
• • On Saturday, 2 April 1927 in The N.Y. York Times • •

• • Defense attorney Norman Schloss rounded up a number of theatre buffs who had seen "Sex" and applauded. A NYC pyjama manufacturer Harry M. Geiss told the court that he "had seen 'Sex' twice and found nothing obscene about it," noted The N.Y. Times in their weekend edition for Saturday, 2 April 1927.
• • Mae West’s “Sex” trial is dramatized in the play “Courting Mae West.”
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Mae West's folly was in wearing $16,000 in diamonds — and not hiring a bodyguard. What if the robber had hit her over the head?
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "I beat men at their own game. I don't look down on men but I certainly don't look up to them either. I never found a man I could love — — or trust — — the way I love myself."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • Motion Picture mentioned Mae West.
• • "Night After Night" — George Raft attains stardom in a peppy, but otherwise commonplace gangster picture, in which George runs a speakeasy and falls in love with a society girl (Constance Cummings).  Newcomer Mae West almost steals the picture. (Paramount) . . .
• • Source: Motion Picture; issue dated for February 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 4182nd 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 • • poster in 1926 • •
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