Sirens of the Silver Screen Is a Lovely Way to Spend An Evening

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Penny Flood is charmed by a one woman show at The Tabard Theatre

 

The Sirens were creatures of Greek mythology, mysterious and beautiful women who sang songs to passing sailors to lure them to their deaths. But, happily, the Sirens of the Silver Screen weren't like that, they were much nicer. These ladies were indeed beautiful but they never lured men to their untimely ends, they beguiled everybody, men and women, because they were in possession of that magical star quality that set them apart from the rest.

It’s a quality you don’t see so much if these days and not everybody had it. Those who did are an exclusive group who include Elizabeth Taylor, Marlene Deitreich, Greta Garbo, Katherine Hepburn, Sophia Loren and these three Judy Garland, Audrey Hepburn and the greatest of them all Marilyn Monroe.

These are the Sirens this show is all about.

 

It’s a single hander, written by and starring Beth Burrows. It came about, she says, while she was working in Dubai and there was precious little around when she wanted to catch a show on a Saturday night, so she decided to write her own. By a happy coincidence, while on a cruise ship, she met director Mark Giesser, who has brought a number of shows to the Tabard including Alan Alda's Radiance: The Passion of Marie Curie. And, as these things go, one thing led to another and Mark became the director of Sirens and here it is at the Tabard.

Beth is pretty with a terrific voice which she puts to good use as she lets rip with the Trolley Song in the Judy part of the show. She's also got a self assured stage presence so has no trouble holding the audience for two hours.

Musical support comes from two terrific musicians - Doug Grannell on double bass and Alex Maynard on piano and a little bit of cello.

And of course, all the props are there: ruby red slippers and Toto in a basket for Judy, the little black dress and cigarette holders for Audrey and a blonde wig with very red lipstick and the dress from The Seven Itch.

It's impeccably researched so that, as well as the well known stories, there are a few new insights (I won’t say what they are as it will give too much away). But there's much more to it than just chatting and singing, Beth has added video clips; some are snippets from the movies which are lovely, and some are really special: a shy teenaged Audrey at her first screen test, Judy teaching Liza how to dance and Marilyn's birthday tribute to the late President Kennedy.

Priceless.

Overall, it's very entertaining and quite charming, and a lovely way to spend an evening.
Sirens of the Silver Screen is at the Tabard until this Saturday, 14 July.

Find out more and book tickets here.

July 9, 2018