Dirty Blonde

Synopsis

A Broadway hit that invites you to see behind the myth that was Mae West. Dirty Blonde shows us Mae West's life, from her early vaudeville routines to her Hollywood hits - and, of course her inimitable quips. More than just a diva tale, Claudia Shear's five time Tony nominated comedy shines a sensitive light on a budding romance between two urban loners as they discover a bit of the Mae West swagger in their own lives.

Our Review:

17 June 2004

Long expected, this little New York hit has finally found its way into the West End to brighten up a summer that’s become distinctly lacklustre (in terms of plays rather than weather).

Mae West, the legendary vaudeville star and Golden Age Hollywood siren, provides the inspiration for Claudia Shear, its author and star, as well as the hard-bitten New York characters she creates, struggling actress Jo and film archivist Charlie, who meet at West’s graveside and embark on a curious love affair.

With the help of a canny stage mother, a gaggle of gay cross-dressers and presumably endless supplies of peroxide, the too-short, too-plump West transformed herself from the “dirty blonde” she was born as to a global icon of gutsy glamour. Fame, fortune and fascination followed via public censorship with early stage Sex through to critical damnation with the film Sextette at the ripe old age of 85.

Lest that leaves you in any doubt, sex was something of an obsess...

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Latest User Review

USER: Whatsonstage.com (81.5.166.220) - 23 August 2004:

The worst play I have every seen in London. The storyline was so boring we had to wake those next to us at the interval....

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