Bette and Joan

It’s 1962, after years of feuding Bette Davis and Joan Crawford are filming ‘Whatever Happened To Baby Jane’ hoping it will re-launch their careers. The play focuses on our two silver screen icons in their respective dressing rooms; Joan’s a haven of cleanliness, relaxation and glamour, Bette’s a functional oasis to smoke, drink and work. Over a series of mono and duologue’s we begin to see what makes each icon tick, their foibles, their idiosyncrasies but increasingly their similarities. It was exceptional from start to finish. The casting of Greta Scacchi as Bette and Anita Dobson as Joan was incredibaly astute and both pulled off astonishing performances, not imitations but credible, believable, multi-layered characterisations. The script is brilliant; sharp, cutting and humorous but lovingly portrayed each characters’ obvious polarised way of living (Joan’s refined poise, Bette’s down-to-earth coarseness). A triumph in every sense of the word and a wonderful night of pure theatre.

Theatre Royal, Brighton, 28 May 2012
Rating:
Lee Stevens