Bette & Joan

This was my first visit to Attfield Theatre in my role as Regional Councillor and I was delighted to attend and to report upon the production.

I was aware of the recent success the theatre group had received at the awards for drama productions in district two during 2023.  They were nominated for, ‘All My Sons’ and ‘Time of My Life’, with the former announced as the winner.

On arrival at the theatre I was pleased to be met by the Front of House team before meeting the production manager Malcolm Lord who provided a wonderful welcome.

The play was first performed in May 2011 at the Arts Theatre in London, thirteen years later and it’s performed in Oswestry by what turned out to be two wonderful actors.

Bette & Joan is set in 1962 and depicts the rivalry between Bette Davis and Joan Crawford. The action takes place within the two actors’ dressing rooms during the shooting or ‘What Ever Happened to Baby Jane’. 

And so upstairs to the theatre itself. A small corridor leading to the auditorium most certainly set the scene with posters of films. I was pleased to see the set was open for the audience to study and marvel. Stage right was Joan Crawford’s dressing room, stage left therefore Bette Davis. Both had their name on their respective dressing room door. Costumes and props within each dressing room including Oscar statues, telephones, Pepsi bottles, wig and make up to name a few. Attention to detail was good and I was particularly impressed with the American plug sockets.

On to the cast – two people who needed to hold our attention for a two-act play. First on stage was Debs Watson as Joan Crawford soon followed by Debbie Jones as Bette Davis.

Debs as Joan Crawford initially gives demands about the rehearsal she is called for and the required temperature both on set and in the dressing room. She then talks to us, the audience, about the rehearsal and her wonderful fans. She later spends time signing autographs for the masses.

Enter Debbie as Bette Davis who tells us about her days at Warner Bros while preparing for filming, including getting made up for Baby Jane – this was done well while engaged in dialogue, which was initially more direct while on the telephone and speaking with us, the audience.

Outstanding performances from both from the get-go until, and including the conclusion of the play, and the impeccable timing on leaving the ‘set’  

The rivalry and long-standing animosity between them start with both giving accounts of their careers and their rivals’ carer as well as relationships. The timing of the dialogue was without fault and we saw both displaying bitchiness as well as vulnerability. Both actors brought out the laughs within the script – no more than when Bette speaking of Joan tells us she had slept with every male star of MGM all except Lassie.

My only disappointment was that the theatre was not full for the final performance – they deserved a full house.

A massive thank you for the welcome and for a fabulous night’s entertainment. Hearing details of the forthcoming season at Attfield Theatre I most certainly look forward to returning.

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