Courting Mae West

The play "COURTING MAE WEST: Sex, Censorship & Secrets" is based on true events during the 1920s when actress MAE WEST was arrested and jailed in New York City for trying to stage two gay plays on Broadway. Maybe she broke the law - - but the LAW couldn't break HER!

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Friday, October 18, 2013

Was Mae West a Good Playwright?

People always ask me this: Was MAE WEST a good playwright? 
• • Mae West did work with collaborators but she had a strong sense of where she was going in a narrative.  There is very clever plotting, for example, in “Diamond Lil.”  
• • In 1928, the newspaper ads were calling her fictional character Diamond Lil “the good bad girl” and Mae structures the plot around opposites:  a street-smart bad girl, surrounded by criminals who could keep her in diamonds, furs, and fancy gowns, becomes fixated on a good-looking man who appears to be different, that is, clean living, decent, pious, and focused on morality and acts of charity instead of on material wealth.   
• • Diamond Lil imagines what it must be like to be good — — to be a decent woman and worthy of a paragon like that.
• • Then Mae supplies a whopper of an O’Henry type ending: his piety is a mask — — he’s really a detective ("The Hawk") who’s there to investigate her and her circle. Although they wind up together, he’s no saint — — only an ordinary cop whose job it is to make sure she loses all of her ill-gotten diamonds.  That is a masterful twist. 
• • Mae West shows her capability as a storyteller by knowing the first precept of a narrative: creating strong characters who want something. 
• • Her ending is crafty, too: Diamond Lil gets the man she wants but not in the way she expected to.

"Diamond Lil" has its own Q-R Code
• • See "Diamond Lil" This Autumn! • • 
"Darlene Violette channels Mae West to perfection!" — Stu Hamstra
• • By popular demand, actress Darlene Violette — — and the wonderful cast who brought the Bowery denizens and Suicide Hall’s ne’er-do-wells to life — — will return in “Diamond Lil” for several evening performances at Don’t Tell Mama [343 W. 46th Street] on these dates in 2013:
• • 7:30pm on Sunday October 27th — Hallowe'en Party — come in 1890s costume!
• • 7:00pm on Sunday November 3rd — vote for Gus Jordan for Sheriff Night.
• • 8:30pm on Sunday November 10th
• • 7:00pm on Sunday November 17th
• • 7:00pm on Sunday November 24th
• • Phone after 4pm to reserve a seat: 212-757-0788; RSVP online: www.donttellmamanyc.com
• • Closest MTA subway stations: 42nd St./ Times Sq. via A, C, E, 1, 2, 3 
• • The public is invited (suitable for age 18 and over). Join us as we turn the iconic NYC nightspot Don't Tell Mama into Gus Jordan's "Suicide Hall"! 
• • The Cast: Starring Darlene Violette as Diamond Lil, Queen of the Bowery and also featuring Sidney Myer, Anthony DiCarlo, Joanna Bonaro, Gary Napoli, Juan Sebastian Cortes, Kimmy Foskett, Jim Gallagher and live music by Brian McInnis
• • Director: Co-directed by Dena Tyler, The Actors Studio, and Darlene Violette.
• • Come up and see for yourself. You might even win a swell Raffle Prize.
• • Watch a short clip: Diamond Lil meets Pablo, a gigolo
• • Read a Review of "Diamond Lil" • •
• • L'Idea Magazine's editors attended four times and had a lot to say. Here's the link: http://www.lideamagazine.com/usa-still-entertaining-mae-wests-diamond-lil-makes-new-fans-in-new-york-city/
• • Staying faithful to the gritty themes in the novel, LindaAnn Loschiavo trimmed the work to 85 minutes for a cast of eight.
• • Audience Comments about "Diamond Lil" • •
• • Gigi Garcone said:  Just saw "Diamond Lil" — — a very entertaining production! This tribute to the sultry, irresistible diva Mae West is a must see! All the actors are very talented and you can see they put their hearts into their roles. I especially liked Darlene Violette as Mae West and Joanna Bonaro as Rita, a madam from Rio. Darlene encompassed the whole persona of Mae and Joanna was sublime as the madam — — she really has such a presence on stage. Very enjoyable performance and it's worth the trip!
• • Rick Baynes of Baltimore said: I second Gigi's comments. "Diamond Lil" brings the fabulous Mae West back to life. The wonderful Darlene Violette is spot-on in her portrayal of the lusty, bawdy Mae. Do yourself a favor and go see this lovely production.
• • Mrs. Jean McLoughlin of NYC said:   I recently saw "Diamond Lil" and loved every minute. The entire cast was top-notch, and I was impressed with their creative use of the entire space. The characters really came to life and I was transported back to the raunchy days of Mae West. Darlene Violette gave a great performance as Diamond Lil  — — but Joanna Bonaro really shone as the sultry, venomous Rita. Joanna commands attention and I was more than willing to give it. Fantastic show, I highly recommend that everyone see it! Even my husband, who does not like theater, really enjoyed it.

• • At Jefferson Market Library in NYC next month • • 
• • Mae West's legal woes inspired the stage play "Courting Mae West." See it on 23 November 2013 in the very same room where Mae faced off with Judge George Donnellan and 12 jurors. 
• • Darlene Violette stars as Mae West and the rest of the cast will soon be announced. 
• • The play, based on true events, is set during the Prohibition Era when Mae's plays were padlocked and she was sent to jail. Talk about a woman who climbed the ladder of success wrong by wrong.. 
• • This free event is open to the public and there is ample seating. [Note: The humor and adult themes are not suitable for children under 13.]
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "I wrote the story myself. It's about a girl who lost her reputation and never missed it."
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
• • The legal battles fought by Mae West and Jim Timony are dramatized in the play "Courting Mae West: Sex, Censorship, and Secrets," set during the Prohibition Era.
Watch a scene on YouTube.

___________
Source:http://courtingmaewest.blogspot.com/atom.xml

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• • Photo: Mae West
• • "Diamond Lil" restaged in 2013 • •
Mae West.

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Tuesday, October 01, 2013

Mae West: Next Month

The Mae West Blog wishes all our visitors a happy autumn — — and take a moment to note on your calendar that the next free MAE WEST events in New York City will occur in late November 2013 in Greenwich Village in New York, NY. Details will be posted shortly. 
• • If you are having any Mae West events, too, let us know.
• • Mae West Takes Centerstage in "The Sex Issue" • •
• • "Mae West: Sex, Censorship, Prison, and Politics" was the lead piece in the summer issue of The Dramatist. Editor-in-Chief Joey Stocks tapped DG member LindaAnn Loschiavo to write the cover story, emphasizing that he wanted the focus to be on the politics that created the legal tornado that sent the actress to prison, making headlines around the world.
• • "At a Publications Committee meeting last fall, Lynn Nottage suggested an article about the Mae West court trials," explained Mr. Stocks, pushing up his green eye-shade as the Broadway traffic noises below his office grew more raucous. "A week later, the newsletter from the National Coalition Against Censorship landed on my desk with the headline: 'The Sex Issue.' I went back to the committee and this issue was conceived. DG member and Mae West expert, LindaAnn Loschiavo agreed to write the article from which everything else would grow. Taking our cue from Mae, we've tried  to make this issue both playful and serious."
• • Who was Mae West in 1926? And why did City Hall make her a target? Ms. Loschiavo, who has read the trial transcripts and done exhaustive research on every aspect of Westiana, wrote the eye-opening article, which the editors turned into a glorious six-page spread. The native New Yorker is also the author of the stage play "Courting Mae West" based on true events during the Prohibition Era.
• • THE DRAMATIST (July 2013 issue) was published by The Dramatists Guild of America, 1501 Broadway [# 701], New York, NY 10036; T 212-398-9366. For a copy, send your inquiries here. This issue of the magazine, sent by mail to subscribers, will only be available to others for a limited time. 
• • THE DRAMATIST is also sold at The Drama Book Shop, 250 West 40th St., New York, NY; T (212) 944-0595.
• • The July 2013 issue is a must-have keepsake for all you Mae-mavens out there.
PHOTO: Wayne Takenaka

• • See "Diamond Lil" This Autumn! •
• • By popular demand, actress Darlene Violette — — and the wonderful cast who brought the Bowery denizens and Suicide Hall’s ne’er-do-wells to life — — will return in “Diamond Lil” for several evening performances at Don’t Tell Mama [343 W. 46th Street] on these dates:
• • 7:30pm on Sunday October 27th — Hallowe'en Party — come in 1890s costume!

• • 7:00pm on Sunday November 3rd — Gus Jordan for Sheriff — Pre-Election Mayhem.
• • 8:30pm on Sunday November 10th
• • 7:00pm on Sunday November 17th
• • 7:00pm on Sunday November 24th
• • Reserve seats by phone: 212-757-0788; RSVP online: www.donttellmamanyc.com
• • Closest MTA subway stations: 42nd St./ Times Sq. via A, C, E, 1, 2, 3
• • The public is invited (suitable for age 18 and over). Join us as we turn the iconic NYC nightspot Don't Tell Mama into Gus Jordan's "Suicide Hall"!
• • The Cast: Starring Darlene Violette as Diamond Lil, Queen of the Bowery and also featuring Sidney Myer, Anthony DiCarlo, Joanna Bonaro, Gary Napoli, Juan Sebastian Cortes, Kimmy Foskett, Jim Gallagher and live music by Brian McInnis
• • Come up and see for yourself.
• • Read a Review of "Diamond Lil" • •
• • L'Idea Magazine's editors attended four times and had a lot to say. Here's the link: http://www.lideamagazine.com/usa-still-entertaining-mae-wests-diamond-lil-makes-new-fans-in-new-york-city/
• • Staying faithful to the gritty themes in the novel, LindaAnn Loschiavo trimmed the work to 85 minutes for a cast of eight.
• • Meet Mae West at Jefferson Market Court! • •
• • In 1927 Mae West sat sulking in the Police Court (425 Sixth Avenue) after her arrest.
• • To commemorate her passing, on Friday, 22 November 2013 and again on Saturday, 23 November 2013, two special events will be held in the Willa Cather Reading Room — — i.e., the same judicial chamber where Mae and her cast faced off with the Special Sessions magistrate 86 years ago. Don't miss it.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "I'd rather be looked over than overlooked."
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
• • The legal battles fought by Mae West and Jim Timony are dramatized in the play "Courting Mae West: Sex, Censorship, and Secrets," set during the Prohibition Era.
Watch a scene on YouTube.

___________
Source:http://courtingmaewest.blogspot.com/atom.xml

Add to Google


• • Photo: Mae West
• • "Diamond Lil" restaged in 2013 • •
Mae West.

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