These days, you just need to look at a cover of a
magazine or access a website to be bombarded with Hollywood stories and
gossip. Some might say it’s the price to pay for being in the
industry, however in Bette & Joan: Bitch. Slut. Liar. Whore.,
writer and performer David Morris explores how this type of reporting is
predominantly focused on women and how not much has actually changed since Hollywood’s golden era.
As she sneaks into her bedroom to escape a dreary party, Bette Davis (Morris)
comes to find the real party is in her bedroom, as she finds
thirty audience members in there. She begins to reminisce about her life and
the lost loves she has encountered. Of course, one such as Davis cannot reminisce
about her Hollywood life without an appearance by her infamous arch-nemesis
Joan Crawford, brilliantly played by Tom Halls.
Having two gay men portray these immortal Hollywood stars is an effective and
clever idea in reminding the audience of the fact that men who behave in this
way are rarely scrutinised or expected to justify themselves to anyone.
It was the
golden era of Hollywood, where stars truly existed and there was a sense of mystique surrounding them. Stars like the indomitable Bette Davis and
Joan Crawford, who despite their circumstances, never quite managed to see eye to eye with each other. Their feud, which continued even after Crawford passed away, is one that has captivated people for decades. Performed as part of the Midsumma Festival, Bette & Joan:
BITCH. SLUT. LIAR. WHORE resurrects these two dead women and pits the
Hollywood legends head to head in one final battle; winner takes all.
"Bette and Joan are the
epitome of the Old-Hollywood ‘star-system’. They worked their way up through
the Hollywood Studio system, and carved out an image and brand for themselves," explain co-creators David Morris and Tom Halls.
"They poured their entire being into being a Hollywood star, to being worthy of
the big screen. They worked
tirelessly at their craft, at executing their characters; that was awe
inspiring. I guess what captures us creatively is the incredible sadness they
both had in their personal lives. They both were desperate for the love of a
partner and their children and friends, but somehow managed to push away every
person whom they ever really got close too."
These days, you just need to look at a cover of a
magazine or access a website to be bombarded with Hollywood stories and
gossip. Some might say it’s the price to pay for being in the
industry, however in Bette & Joan: Bitch. Slut. Liar. Whore.,
writer and performer David Morris explores how this type of reporting is
predominantly focused on women and how not much has actually changed since Hollywood’s golden era.