Bonnie Greer's Marilyn & Ella, a musical play about pop culture icons Marilyn Monroe and Ella Fitzgerald, which originally premiered at the Theatre Royal, Stratford East in 2008, is to make its West End debut in three Sunday performances at the Apollo Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, Nov. 15, 22 and 29. The play is directed by Colin McFarlane, and features Suzie Kennedy as Monroe. It is produced by 4th Wall Entertainment and Neil Eckersley and Paul Spicer for Speckulation Entertainment.
According to press materials, Marilyn Monroe quit Hollywood for New York at the height of her fame in 1955 in search of something more real. During this time she immersed herself in the underground jazz bars of New York and for the very first time got to hear Ella Fitzgerald perform live. Monroe was reportedly blown away and promptly called the owner of her favorite L.A. club, Mocambo, and told him that she would sit in the front row of his club every night for a week if he lifted the color ban and allowed Fitzgerald to sing in his nightclub. He agreed, the ban was lifted, and the rest is history. Fitzgerald was later quoted as saying, "I owe Marilyn a debt."
Greer's play explores how Fitzgerald, one of the greatest music artists of the 20th century came to worship Monroe, the most beautiful woman in the world, not for her external looks but for the individual inside that few in the wider world ever caught a glimpse of. Interspersed with hits of the era, including "I Got Rhythm," "My Funny Valentine," "Every Time We Say Goodbye," "Mack the Knife" and "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend."
Suzie Kennedy has performed all over the world, in films, music videos, documentaries and TV commercials. She has also recently appeared in an Italian film, "lo e Marilyn", about her heroine. The part of Ella Fitzgerald is still to be cast.
Bonnie Greer is a playwright, author and critic. She has been a regular contributor to TV's "Newsnight Review" and "Question Time". Her latest novel "Entropy" was published in March 2009.
Director Colin McFarlane has appeared as actor in numerous theatre, TV and film roles including Commissioner Loeb in "Batman Begins" and "The Dark Knight". He is also a prolific voiceover artist and is currently the voice of ITV's new Saturday night entertainment show "The Cube".
To book tickets, contact the box office on 0844 412 4658, or visit http://www.marilynandella.com/.
