Mae West: Sexual Freedom

Shocking and controversial in its time, a play by MAE WEST continues to be revived for open-minded audiences. This recent production was on the boards in Cape Cod. This is Part 2 of 9 segments.
• • Theatre Review:  Doing the Time Warp in Mae West’s Play “The Drag” • •
• • In the 1920s, having “a gay old time” was kind of complicated. • •
• • Howard Karren wrote: The company’s artistic director, David Drake, had originally meant for “The Drag” by Mae West to open the 2020 season, which was postponed by the coronavirus pandemic. And now it’s here, back indoors, with Covid protocols (vaccinations checked, audience masked), in a revelatory production that Drake has refashioned for today’s audiences.

• • Howard Karren wrote: Drake originally chose it, he has said, to fortify us against the right-wing backlash unleashed by the Trump presidency. And in 2022, with legislative and court actions further threatening sexual and gender minorities, that fortification is as necessary as ever.
• • Howard Karren wrote: Mae West was a champion of women’s sexual freedom throughout her career.
• • “The Drag” by Mae West ―continued • • …  
• • Source: The Provincetown Independent; published on Wednesday, 25 May 2022.
• • On Tuesday, 5 July 1932 in Variety • •
• • Casting problems caused delays for Paramount Pictures in the summer of 1932. As Mae waited to film her scenes with George Raft, as his former flame Maudie, offers came in for her to create material for others.  
• • In their issue dated for Tuesday, 5 July 1932, Variety printed this headline: "Mae Mulls Sock Yarns for Marlene and Jean."
• • But Mae demurred. Years later, explaining the situation to a British reporter, she admitted to being reluctant. "If I thought of something funny," said Mae, "I wasn't about to give it to them."
• • July 2004: Mae West Blog launches • •
• • What are we up to, writing about the Brooklyn-born bombshell for eighteen 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 • •

• • What an array of new faces on the screen to fascinate us. Some of these: Mae West from N'Yawk who wins us over with her Maudie Triplett in "Night After Night;" Lydia Roberti, the peppy blonde of "The Kid from Spain," and Elizabeth Allan, who played with Leslie Howard in "Reserved for Ladies."
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "There are no good girls gone wrong — — just bad girls found out."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • Billboard mentioned Mae West.
• • "Come On Up, Ring Twice," with Mae West at the Cass Theatre, Detroit, Michigan. …
• • Source: Billboard; published on Saturday, 29 June 1946
• • 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 18th anniversary • • 
• • Thank you for reading, sending questions, and posting comments during these past eighteen years. Not long ago, we entertained 3,497 visitors. And we reached a milestone recently when we completed 5,000 blog posts. Wow! 
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started eighteen years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 5,030th 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/
________
Source: https://maewest.blogspot.com/atom.xml  
• • Be sure to bookmark or follow The Mae West Blog
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • news photo in 1927 • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest