Bette & Joan

It is well known that Bette Davis and Joan Crawford were at daggers drawn throughout their careers. Did not have time for each other and were altogether quite disparaging about the other’s talent. Crawford saw herself as a true Hollywood star whilst Davis said she was only a working actress but boy could she act.

This play concerns itself with the many confrontations between the pair when plunged together for the first time in the making of the film “Whatever happened to Baby Jane?”

Christine Davies (Bette) and Lynne Whitaker(Joan) put on tremendous performances and really gave us a clear insight regarding the animosity between the pair. Here were two actresses with the daunting task of portraying probably the most famous Hollywood bitches and, yes, they did achieve this. The standard of their work was exceptional, never losing character and giving so many facets to their interpretation.

Joan, the one always striving for recognition and doing her utmost to gain this with whatsoever means she could. Tearful, coaxing, wheedling, screaming, all delivered in such a convincing way that one was tempted to believe that Joan Crawford was actually in the theatre.

Bette was equally up to the mark. A bully, inconsiderate of her other cast member, demanding her way on a permanent basis, twisting the director round her little finger to alter filming schedule for her own benefit and to the confusion of Joan and of course quite foul mouthed as we all knew.

The scene took place in their respective dressing rooms with the clever idea of the audience on two sides and the set in the middle. This was an excellent idea which worked well and with the action continually moving from one to the other it certainly needed all their concentration to keep the show moving forward.

Lighting and costumes were up to standard and added to the ambience of the compact and intimate set.

Gareth Dickinson has to be well pleased with his first attempt at direction as this show was a complete success.

One hour and fifty minutes of dialogue, two very talented actresses and not one prompt!

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It is well known that Bette Davis and Joan Crawford were at daggers drawn throughout their careers. Did not have time for each other and were altogether quite disparaging about the other’s talent. Crawford saw herself as a true Hollywood star whilst Davis said she was only a working actress but boy could she act.

This play concerns itself with the many confrontations between the pair when plunged together for the first time in the making of the film “Whatever happened to Baby Jane?”

Christine Davies (Bette) and Lynne Whitaker(Joan) put on tremendous performances and really gave us a clear insight regarding the animosity between the pair. Here were two actresses with the daunting task of portraying probably the most famous Hollywood bitches and, yes, they did achieve this. The standard of their work was exceptional, never losing character and giving so many facets to their interpretation.

Joan, the one always striving for recognition and doing her utmost to gain this with whatsoever means she could. Tearful, coaxing, wheedling, screaming, all delivered in such a convincing way that one was tempted to believe that Joan Crawford was actually in the theatre.

Bette was equally up to the mark. A bully, inconsiderate of her other cast member, demanding her way on a permanent basis, twisting the director round her little finger to alter filming schedule for her own benefit and to the confusion of Joan and of course quite foul mouthed as we all knew.

The scene took place in their respective dressing rooms with the clever idea of the audience on two sides and the set in the middle. This was an excellent idea which worked well and with the action continually moving from one to the other it certainly needed all their concentration to keep the show moving forward.

Lighting and costumes were up to standard and added to the ambience of the compact and intimate set.

Gareth Dickinson has to be well pleased with his first attempt at direction as this show was a complete success.

One hour and fifty minutes of dialogue, two very talented actresses and not one prompt!

.

It is well known that Bette Davis and Joan Crawford were at daggers drawn throughout their careers. Did not have time for each other and were altogether quite disparaging about the other’s talent. Crawford saw herself as a true Hollywood star whilst Davis said she was only a working actress but boy could she act.

This play concerns itself with the many confrontations between the pair when plunged together for the first time in the making of the film “Whatever happened to Baby Jane?”

Christine Davies (Bette) and Lynne Whitaker(Joan) put on tremendous performances and really gave us a clear insight regarding the animosity between the pair. Here were two actresses with the daunting task of portraying probably the most famous Hollywood bitches and, yes, they did achieve this. The standard of their work was exceptional, never losing character and giving so many facets to their interpretation.

Joan, the one always striving for recognition and doing her utmost to gain this with whatsoever means she could. Tearful, coaxing, wheedling, screaming, all delivered in such a convincing way that one was tempted to believe that Joan Crawford was actually in the theatre.

Bette was equally up to the mark. A bully, inconsiderate of her other cast member, demanding her way on a permanent basis, twisting the director round her little finger to alter filming schedule for her own benefit and to the confusion of Joan and of course quite foul mouthed as we all knew.

The scene took place in their respective dressing rooms with the clever idea of the audience on two sides and the set in the middle. This was an excellent idea which worked well and with the action continually moving from one to the other it certainly needed all their concentration to keep the show moving forward.

Lighting and costumes were up to standard and added to the ambience of the compact and intimate set.

Gareth Dickinson has to be well pleased with his first attempt at direction as this show was a complete success.

One hour and fifty minutes of dialogue, two very talented actresses and not one prompt!

.

  

It is well known that Bette Davis and Joan Crawford were at daggers drawn throughout their careers. Did not have time for each other and were altogether quite disparaging about the other’s talent. Crawford saw herself as a true Hollywood star whilst Davis said she was only a working actress but boy could she act.

This play concerns itself with the many confrontations between the pair when plunged together for the first time in the making of the film “Whatever happened to Baby Jane?”

Christine Davies (Bette) and Lynne Whitaker(Joan) put on tremendous performances and really gave us a clear insight regarding the animosity between the pair. Here were two actresses with the daunting task of portraying probably the most famous Hollywood bitches and, yes, they did achieve this. The standard of their work was exceptional, never losing character and giving so many facets to their interpretation.

Joan, the one always striving for recognition and doing her utmost to gain this with whatsoever means she could. Tearful, coaxing, wheedling, screaming, all delivered in such a convincing way that one was tempted to believe that Joan Crawford was actually in the theatre.

Bette was equally up to the mark. A bully, inconsiderate of her other cast member, demanding her way on a permanent basis, twisting the director round her little finger to alter filming schedule for her own benefit and to the confusion of Joan and of course quite foul mouthed as we all knew.

The scene took place in their respective dressing rooms with the clever idea of the audience on two sides and the set in the middle. This was an excellent idea which worked well and with the action continually moving from one to the other it certainly needed all their concentration to keep the show moving forward.

Lighting and costumes were up to standard and added to the ambience of the compact and intimate set.

Gareth Dickinson has to be well pleased with his first attempt at direction as this show was a complete success.

One hour and fifty minutes of dialogue, two very talented actresses and not one prompt!

.

  

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