What I liked
The writing, first and foremost. This was a very well-crafted bit of theater. The lightness on the surface belied a strong undercurrent that really made me think about the characters in a way I hadn’t before. I already had my opinions about Christina Crawford’s book before seeing this, but that monologue at the end really put it into perspective. It was nice seeing Joan able to get to defend herself and so brilliantly. I really liked the whole thing. The cast, the pacing, the writing. And the venue itself was well-suited for the intimacy we got to share with such famous figures.
What I didn't like
Well, it was just a staged reading so its bare-bones mounting was not a negative, but I would love to see it fully-done one day. The bathroom could have been more convenient! Ha!
My overall impression
NOTORIOUS was both entertaining and thought-provoking. I loved the “what if” concept and the way it made you reassess preconceived or well-known beliefs about these famous figures. The writing was so deft it really made you feel as if you were witnessing real rather than imagined moments. It was light on the surface but there was some real depth to these stories. And it was really well paced with some great lines and a couple of brilliant monologues, particularly that last one of Joan Crawford’s. It went by so fast I wanted more. The talented cast seemed to be really enjoying themselves with these roles and their enthusiasm was infectious. Great show!
