Mae West: Wild Side

MAE WEST was born in New York City 115 years ago on 17 August 1893.
• • To celebrate the occasion in style, the Diamond Divas led a group of two dozen Mae-mavens to several locations in Greenwich Village linked to her stage career and the work of individuals she admired such as Lillian Russell, Tony Pastor, Texas Guinan, Eugene O'Neill, and Rae Bourbon.
• • Walking Tour: "Mae West's Walk on the Wild Side" visited the former residence of Judge Amadeo Bertini, who presided over Mae's Pleasure Man trial in 1930; the first speakeasy fined for violating the Volstead Act; the infamous drag cabarets along West Third Street; and the building where Washington Square College coeds elected Mae West as their "prom girl" in 1927.
• • The August 17th event — — billed as "rain or shine" — — received the weatherman's blessing. Ideal conditions prevailed and the group found it quite pleasant to linger and enjoy the musical interludes.
• • The musical program, sung by soprano Marlena de la Mora and Sharon Weinman, included: "Everything's Coming up Mae West"; "Mon Coeur S' Ouvre a Ta Voix"; "The Prisoner's Song"; "Frankie and Johnny"; "Come Down Ma Evening Star"; "I Could Have Danced All Night"; "Gentleman Jimmy"; and a grand finale taken from the score of "Diamond Lil."
• • Joining the tour group yesterday was the cast of "Courting Mae West" — — Yvonne Sayers, Neal Sims, Gloria Buccino, Mary Murphy, and Steven Viola.
• • This outdoor event — — which is part of the Annual Mae West Birthday Gala — — is scheduled every August in Manhattan and open to the public.
• • For info on Theatre District Tours: Seesaw864@juno.com
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West tour • • Diamond Divas Production • •
NYC
Mae West.

Mae West: Mary Murphy

ELIZA ROURKE is one of the fictional characters in the play "COURTING MAE WEST." Yes, the Irish characters do dominate because, in Mae West's real life, she surrounded herself with people of Irish birth and descent.
• • In her early 20s, ELIZA is an unpaid maidservant in the boarding house owned by her Irish Catholic parents on West Ninth Street in Greenwich Village.
• • Raised by the schemer and master manipulator DECLAN ROURKE, ELIZA ROURKE is totally her father's daughter.
• • Still a virgin and dependent on her parents because of a lack of income, ELIZA is frustrated and getting desperate due to her lack of options. ELIZA feels imprisoned by her situation and is constantly scheming about how to improve her situation.
• • Infatuated by their boarder SHORTIE, ELIZA plans a way to be alone with him, hoping to get closer to him.
• • Fascinated by the chic SARA STARR, when ELIZA realizes SARA is admiring her body, she is quite prepared to seize control of the situation and take the upper hand.

• • ELIZA ROURKE's core: manipulation in a "velvet glove"
• • MARY MURPHY (Eliza Rourke) — — A few of her credits include: Jane Eyre, Artist Descending a Staircase, Stonewall Voices, Why Does it Sting…, Jailbirds, Wait Until Dark, and All Night Meeting. She has also lent her voice to the cartoon Pokemon, various radio, film, and television projects, along with an award-winning children’s audio adventure series.

• • "COURTING MAE WEST" opens at 6 o'clock on Saturday night July 19, 2008 at the Algonquin Theatre [East 24th Street and Park Avenue South].
• • "COURTING MAE WEST" — — showtimes
• • July 19th, 2008 — — 6:00 PM
• • July 20th, 2008 — — 2:00 PM matinee
• • July 21st, 2008 — — 6:00 PM
• • July 22nd, 2008 — — 9:00 PM
• • Tickets to "COURTING MAE WEST" are $18 per adult.
• • Theatermania.com sells the tickets — — http://www.theatermania.com/content/show.cfm/show/144297
• • Questions? Phone 212-779-3051.
• • The play is 95 minutes.
• • Get ready to come up and see Mae West, Texas Guinan, and the gang onstage in mid-July 2008.
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West cast • • Mary Murphy • •
NYC
Mae West.