Mae West: Melita’s Ventriloquy

Like MAE WEST, Diane Arbus was a native New Yorker. An Australian stage play, inspired by their Los Angeles meeting and photo session, was widely reviewed. To commemorate Arbus’s untimely death, age 48, in the month of July, let’s ponder some of those critiques.
• • Let’s hear from an Australian drama critic now. This is Part 4 of 4 excerpts, the finale.
• • “Meeting of two worlds of women” • •
• • “Arbus and West” by Stephen Sewell — — reviewed by Chris Boyd • •
• • Melita Jurisic enacts Mae West like a ventriloquist • •
• • Chris Boyd wrote: With a breathy snake-charming voice, Melita Jurisic enacts Mae West like a ventriloquist. “Acts” hardly begins to describe her capabilities as a shape-shifting dramatic avatar.
• • Chris Boyd wrote: Jennifer Vuletic is delightful as Mae West’s dresser-cum-defender Ruby. Aside from a stunning rendition of “I’m No Angel” — — “C’mon let me cling on / t’you like a vine” — —it’s a carefully reined-in performance.
• • Chris Boyd wrote: In a nod to the cut-open two-tier dressing rooms Mae West used in “The Pleasure Man,” Renee Mulder’s living room set is ringed with a runway-staircase — — that doubles as a backstage area.
• • Credits: “Arbus and West“ by Stephen Sewell. Melbourne Theatre Company. Fairfax Studio, Arts Centre Melbourne. Duration: 2hr 15min. Until 30 March 2019.
• • This concludes Chris Boy’s insightful critique. You can read the other three excerpts, if you missed those.
• • Source: The Australian; published on Monday, 4 March 2019.
• • On Wednesday, 16 July 1952 in Groton, Connecticut • •
• • On Wednesday, 16 July 1952 Mae West traveled to the Groton submarine base to participate in the "debut" of the scarlet red life jackets dubbed "Mae Wests" [a flotation device].
• • July 2004: Mae West Blog launches • •

• • What are we up to, writing about the Brooklyn-born bombshell for fifteen years now?
• • We’re here to keep Mae mavens up to date, correct errors, celebrate each revival of a play she wrote, post the latest Westian stage and book reviews. And answer our fan mail!
• • The light’s still on. Come up and see Mae every day.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • "Even as a child," Beverly West told a reporter, "my sister Mae's songs were risque."
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "We never did much of a sister act. I always liked to go it alone."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • Variety mentioned Mae West.
• • Robert Hofler wrote: The new year in the theater, however, has already seen the Mae West triptych of “Dirty Blonde,” “Sex” and now the cabaret musical “Come Up ‘N See Me,” by Ellen Schwartz, Bonnie Lee Sanders and Arthur Writ at Greenwich Village’s Neva restaurant. . . .
• • Source: Variety;  published on Thursday, 10 February 2000
• • 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 15th anniversary • •  

• • Thank you for reading, sending questions, and posting comments during these past fifteen 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 fifteen years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 4257th 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 • • in 1937 • •
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