Love, Marilyn by Valerie Goodwin
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A two-act, 11m, 5f play (with 9 additional minor roles) which charts the lifestyle, friendships, hardships and downfall of one of the
20th Century's classic female icons.
Staged by Taste Productions at the 2004 Edinburgh Festival

Image courtesy of www.heirographics.co.ukMarilyn Monroe (1926-1962), was born Norma Jean Baker, in a charity ward in Hollywood. She became a film star and a 'poster person', with seemingly mythic status and an aura of immortal beauty and desirability, yet in reality her life was tragic in it's drug dependency, suicidal tendencies and mental breakdowns. She was in and out of hospitals and the divorce courts, with a string of failed affairs and miscarriages. Her famous lovers and husbands included Frank Sinatra, Arthur Miller and John F. Kennedy himself. What was it like to be her? And how did her life spiral out of control? What can we learn about her from the people closest to her?

This play explores her life as seen from many viewpoints; her makeup man, her husband, her director, her acting coach, her psychiatrist and doctor. In the final scenes we imagine what her last night alive may have been like, and speculate on why she died. The play has a large cast, although many of the characters are cameo roles. The part of Marilyn must be played by a competant actress as the role is demanding throughout. This is especially so in Act 2 Scene 3, where for 15-20 mins, she is alone on stage in the enactment of her last night alive.

Marilyn continues to fascinate, and she exerts a curious power over us. Even today, we all still 'love, Marilyn'.

With the current renewed interest in the iconic Marilyn, this dramatic new play will provide a challenge for your cast and crew, and will also provide your audiences with an insight into the life and loves of one of the 20th Century's most alluring legends.


 
Speaking Parts In Order Of Appearance :-
Whitey' Snyder - her make-up man
Sam Shaw - a friend & photographer
Marilyn Monroe - iconic, tragic, lonely, a film star with deep psychological problems
Arthur Miller - Marilyn's third husband
Expert - an intense, studious man, has researched Marilyn's life in an almost 'stalker' type way
Secretary - works at the studios, has kept a detailed diary of Marilyn's attendance on set
George Cukor - a movie Director
Paula Strasberg - Marylin's acting coach, speaks in ake foreign accent, wife of Lee Strasberg
Waitress - a waitress in a small bar/diner
Johnny - a customer in the bar/diner
A Fan - another customer in the bar/diner
Dr Greenson - Marilyn's personal physician, much 'put-upon'
Mrs Dougherty - a friend of Marilyn's Aunt Grace, Mother to Jimmy Dougherty
Jimmy Dougherty - 21, an all-American boy who lives nearby. Marilyn's first husband
Joe Schenk - an old, cigar-smoking studio owner
Joe DiMaggio - A famous baseball player. Marilyn's second husband
Cowboy - a simple farmer-type, comes to the assistance of Arthur Miller
Russell Metty - a film cameraman
John Huston - a movie Director
Lee Strasberg - Paula's husband. They both have a Svengali-like hold over her.
Kravitz - an unbalanced fan of Marilyn, he actively stalks her
Billy Wilder - a movie Director
Marjorie Plecher - Marilyn's dressmaker
Voices Off (Live) Lawyers 1 & 2 - lawyers at the inquest (could be either sex, preferably male)
 
Recorded Voices :-
Child - Marilyn / Norma Jean at age 3
Ida - A foster mother of Marilyn's
Newsreel Announcer - a typical Pathé/Movietone announcer of the 1950/60's
Reporter 1 - a news reporter at Los Angeles airport
Reporter 2 - a news reporter at New York, La Guardia airport
Peter Lawford - one of Marilyn's friends. His wife (Pat) is JFK's sister
 
Non-Speaking Minor Roles :-
Yves Montand - a friend of Marilyn
Simone Signoret - a friend of Marilyn
 
Notes :
1) Some of the roles can be doubled
 
 

 
 

 
 
Duration : 110 mins
Acts : 2
Cast  
Principals
: 5m, 1f
Support
: 6m, 4f
Other
: 6m, 2f, 1m/f
 
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