Mae West: Navel Moved

A Los Angeles Times cartoon showed MAE WEST yanking G.B. Shaw's beard. Since she avidly followed theatre gossip, it’s possible Mae was familiar with his prostitute play, “Mrs. Warren's Profession,” featuring a streetwalker who is now a wealthy madam. If only they could chat during Shaw Fest, which will present “Sex” this summer.  This is Part 9 of 10 segments.
• • Shaw Festival revives Mae West’s racy Broadway hit “Sex” • •
• • Not good on the page but elevated by the actors • •
• • J. Kelly Nestruck wrote:  “I think the reason these don’t get performed is that on the page they’re not very good,” Robertson Wojcik says matter-of-factly. “The performance is where they come through.”
• • J. Kelly Nestruck wrote:  Indeed, Mae West’s writing is truly theatrical in that it requires embodiment to achieve its full meaning. During her obscenity trial in 1927, the prosecution found it very difficult to explain exactly why “Sex” was obscene, forcing a sergeant from the vice squad to try to mimic West’s delivery and at one point describe her dance moves: “Miss West moved her navel up and down and from right to left.” (West took inspiration from African-American dancers and drag performers in her stage persona.)
• • Diana Donnelly, long-time Shaw Fest member, takes Mae’s role • •
• • This preview article will be concluded on the next post.
• • Source: The Globe and Mail; published on Monday, 6 May 2019.
• • On Saturday, 10 June 1911 • •

• • “Mae West and Fred Wallace [sic] sang several coon songs” • •
• • The olio had Irene Dillon, who appeared in several character changes, and rendered several songs, including a baby number. She did well with all of them. Mae West and Fred Wallace [sic] sang several coon songs, with Miss West making several changes down to full tights, with good effect.  Al Herman, in black face, presented some novel business in his monologue, and employed his powerful voice to good advantage.  …
• • Source:  Review in The New York Clipper; published on Saturday, 10 June 1911. 
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • “This was such a big court case and it really brought her a ton of publicity,” says Pamela Robertson Wojcik, a University of Chicago professor whose books include Guilty Pleasures: Feminist Camp from Mae West to Madonna. “It helped fuel her stardom.”
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "If I asked for a cup of coffee, someone would search for the double meaning."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • The N.Y. Daily News mentioned Mae West.
• • Mara Bovsun wrote: No less an authority than Mae West admired her allure. “She had a sex quality that seemed to mesmerize the audience,” Mae West said, “When she finished singing, they just kind of went crazy.”
• • Mara Bovsun wrote: Unlike Doris Day, Ruth Etting is almost forgotten now, even though we still sing songs she made popular.  . . .
• • Source: New York Daily News; published on Sunday, 26 May 2019
• • 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 4,200 blog posts. Wow!  

• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started fourteen years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 4231st 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 • • showing off her wedding ring in 1911 • •
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