Mae West: Unbalanced Nature

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 13.
• • “Arbus and West” — — A one-way gladiatorial battle • •
• • something is fundamentally missing • •
• • Robert Reid wrote: I’m not sure I remember ever Arbus using it, as she carries a second camera slung around her neck, “shooting off a few,” flashing bulbs and catching West in candid moments. The neglected eye of the camera reflects Arbus’ role in the play; present, watching, largely silent.
• • Robert Reid wrote: Sewell allows Diane Arbus a moment of pained self-reflection almost at the end, before she takes her final photos and leaves the stage, heading out of the light to what we know will be her eventual death. But it’s not enough time to give her final words the weight they need.
• • Robert Reid wrote: The unbalanced nature of the play turns what could be a really interesting interrogation of both women into a one-way gladiatorial battle that struggles to maintain a dramaturgical rhythm.
• • The text glides instead of drilling down into thematic bedrock • • . . .
• • To be continued on the next post.
• • Source: Witness, stage review; published on Wednesday, 6 March 2019.
• • On Friday, 18 April 1969 in Life Magazine • •

• • Nationally, the news racks on Friday, 18 April 1969 held the iconic issue of Life Magazine with Mae West front and center [1969 cover price: 40 cents].
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Remember when Mae West was raring to play the Queen of Sheba? Bette Davis seems to be heading to Israel to play that role.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "I'm for clean pictures and clean everything."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • A syndicated columnist mentioned Mae West.
• • Hollywood Today • •
• • Mae West Wants Harry Truman in Her Comeback Klondike Film • •
• • NEA syndicated columnist Erskine Johnson wrote: At the junction of Hollywood and Grapevine, Harry S. Truman playing piano might be seen in an Alaskan dance hall in a fleeting cameo. Yes!
• • Columnist Erskine Johnson wrote: That is the latest idea Mae West has as she is working on her promised comeback movie “Klondike Lou.” And “I am betting she’ll get him,” says Steve Cochran, who will be in the film with her. The script gets Mae West mixed up romantically and politically with the English and Russian ambassadors who visit Dawson in 1836.
• • Columnist Erskine Johnson wrote: Also in the film for walk-ons, Mae is telling us it will be her former leading men including Cary Grant, George Raft, and Randolph Scott. …
• • Source: Syndicated column; published on Saturday, 22 November 1958
• • 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 4194th 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 • • on the cover of Life in 1969 • •
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