Bette and Joan (The Final Curtain)

~~The Grange Players Offering on this occasion was the lesser know stage play “Bette and Joan (The Final Curtain)” which ironically is the story of two of Hollywood’s most famous actresses, Bette Davis and Joan Crawford, The play, first premiered as recently as 2011 tells the infamous story of their long-term rivalry, which comes to a head later in their careers.
The play’s starting point is1989 in the bedroom of Bette and then continues flicking between decades to different points in their lives with the main event concentrating on a scene in their respective dressing rooms on the set of the 1962 film “Whatever Happened to Baby Jane”.
Denise Phillips gives a wonderful portrayal of the bitchy, heavy smoking, foul mouthed actress with great emphasis on Bette’s unique American/English accent. As does Susie May Linch as the more glamorous Joan Crawford who arrives to escort Bette back to heaven as soon as she dies!! She takes great delight in trying to gain the upper hand in who can be the bitchiest?  With many juicy scathing or sarcastic remarks muttered under her breath or directly to the audience, Hilarious!
Good supporting roles from Elena Serafinas as Hedda Hopper and Liz Plumpton as Louella Parsons portraying the ghosts of these legendary Hollywood Columnists using video clips projected on to the white walled set, which at times were difficult to hear and coming to life on stage. I did wonder why the set was mainly plain white but the video projections soon explained the reasons for this.
Although the characterisation of these two Hollywood legends was spot on, I did however at times find the story line difficult to follow, but on the whole another delightful show from the Grange Players.
 

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