BETTE & JOAN
Park Theatre
★★★★
“A stupendous performance … witty and moving”
Set conflicts, long lived feuds and a peek in the life of the big Hollywood stars. After series like Ryan Murphy’s Feud and Hollywood started swarming the media, it’s clear that audiences want to see what unfolds behind the camera lens. Bette Davis and Joan Crawford had a complicated professional relationship that had its ups and downs (mainly its downs). In Bette and Joan by Anton Burge, the actress and the movie star face each other in a battle for dominance.
The show begins with them introducing themselves and giving us a taste of their personalities in their respective dressing rooms. The exposition is necessary, but also tiring, especially if one’s familiar with the stars and their lives. But actors Greta Scacchi (who plays Bette Davis) and Felicity Dean (who plays Joan Crawford) are doing an excellent job of keeping us intrigued and absolutely hooked. They’re getting ready to shoot a scene of Whatever Happened to Baby Jane, the famous picture that brought them back to the spotlight and skyrocketed both of their careers once again. The second half seems to be somewhat similar to the first, offering some electrifying moments between the actresses and some touching monologues about their respective personal lives.
It’s a trip down memory lane, which is enjoyable, but doesn’t really lead anywhere. Capturing the vast range of this relationship in two hours is impossible, but under the direction of Sue Jenkins, the actors’ great performances make us step out of the auditorium gratified. The tricky detail about this production is that it’s not enough to portray the real people accurately, but find the sweet spot of hostility and antagonism. Scacchi and Dean succeed triumphantly, as we see them separately, but also interacting, their dynamic full of fire that brings laughter to the audience. The way Dean inhabits the viper-like lady who’s always ready to strike while keeping up appearances and sticking to good manners is mesmerising, with every hand gesture being refined and elegant. Through her monologue about Crawford’s mother and upbringing she shows her highly skilled craft, contrasting Scacchi’s direct and confrontational approach.
The set, designed by Neil Gordon, is magnificent, one of the highlights of the show I dare say. A double dressing room with little details that make each side unique and that brings out the theme of duality. After all, the two stars might come from different backgrounds, but they have more in common than they want to admit, fighting bravely to make it in a cruel industry, where youth and money is one’s currency. Lighting, designed by Joe Pilling, is an interesting mixture of vanity mirror light bulbs and spotlights that focuses the audience’s attention to the appropriate side of the stage, making it easier to follow the narrative. Pip Thurlow’s sound design is minimal, which is exactly what this piece needs as we’re focusing on the words rather than distracting stylisations.
A stupendous performance that remind us that under all the glamour of Hollywood’s golden era, actors are still people, capable of being petty, competitive and deeply vulnerable. The show is witty and moving, even if at times one wishes we’d get more scenes with the actors being together, in order to get a better taste of their relationship.
BETTE & JOAN at Park Theatre
Reviewed on 5th December 2024
by Stephanie Christodoulidou
Photography by Simon Annand
Previously reviewed at this venue:
GOING FOR GOLD | ★★★★ | November 2024
THE FORSYTE SAGA | ★★★★★ | October 2024
AUTUMN | ★★½ | October 2024
23.5 HOURS | ★★★ | September 2024
BITTER LEMONS | ★★★½ | August 2024
WHEN IT HAPPENS TO YOU | ★★★★★ | August 2024
THE MARILYN CONSPIRACY | ★★★★ | June 2024
IVO GRAHAM: CAROUSEL | ★★★★ | June 2024
A SINGLE MAN | ★★★★ | May 2024
SUN BEAR | ★★★ | April 2024
HIDE AND SEEK | ★★★★ | March 2024
COWBOYS AND LESBIANS | ★★★★ | February 2024
BETTE & JOAN
BETTE & JOAN
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