Written by Phil
Ormsby
Directed by Simon
Coleman
Presented by
Purplestage in association with Gasworks Arts Park and Flaxworks Theatre
Q Theatre,
Queanbeyan, 30 May 2015
Review by Len Power
Now almost forgotten, Veronica Lake was a 1940s movie star
recognizable for her long blonde hair covering her right eye, giving her a
sexy, sultry look. She worked with Alan
Ladd a few times and did good work in ‘Sullivan’s Travels’ and ‘I Married A
Witch’. By 1950 she was past her peak and
it was all downhill from there.
 |
| Veronica Lake in the 1940s |
‘Drowning In Veronica Lake’ takes us behind the glamorous
image into the reality of being a sex symbol in Hollywood and what happens when
your celebrity is finished. We’ve seen
this kind of thing before but this one stands out as a great theatre as well as
an interesting story.
Actress, Alex Ellis, is onstage already when the audience
enters the theatre. She’s dressed in a
long gown that spreads out in an extraordinary wide circle around her on the
stage. We quickly realize she can hardly
move. She’s trapped in the gown and in
her Hollywood image forever. It’s a
clever concept and captures our interest immediately.
 |
| Alex Ellis as Veronica Lake |
Phil Ormsby’s strong script moves us quickly through her
Hollywood career and life beyond, giving us a detailed picture of this complex
and troubled woman. Her grasping and
unfeeling mother, also played by Alex Ellis, was a monster who just added to
Veronica Lake’s troubles. Then there are
the failed marriages, the alcoholism, the money that suddenly wasn’t there and
the vanishing career.
Alex Ellis as Veronica Lake gives an intense one woman
performance that is funny, chilling, moving and ultimately memorable. Switching suddenly from Veronica Lake to her
mother and back again, Ellis never misses a beat in her strong
characterizations and makes us sympathise with Veronica Lake and her problems.
There was a particularly good soundscape accompanying the
play with snatches of appropriate songs and music that created an excellent
atmosphere. Sound engineer Rohan Evans
is credited in the program. Lighting
design by Nik Janiurek was very well done.
The period dress design by Sara Taylor and Elizabeth Whiting made the
dress almost a character in itself.
Director, Simon Coleman was produced a very strong, thought-provoking
show. His clever theatricality makes it much
more interesting than the usual Hollywood horror story.
 |
| Veronica Lake in 1971, aged 48, two years before her death |
It was shocking to hear that Veronica Lake died at just 50. At the end of the play she talks to us from
beyond the grave, desperately reaching out to us to keep her image alive. As we leave the auditorium, the actress stays
onstage in the same position as when we entered. Did we just dream it all?
Originally broadcast on Artsound FM 92.7 ‘Dress Circle’ showbiz program
with Bill Stephens on Sunday 31 May 2015 from 5pm.