Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? Director Howard Schor commented, “It is certainly different from any of the five plays I have directed or the 40-plus I have produced here in Bend. In Jane the level of collaboration has gone beyond the beautiful aura and camaraderie that a great cast and crew birth in bringing words and directions on a page to life.” Performances February 27-March 14.
For instance Rick Jenkins, plays three supporting roles and helped mold the scene of Ben Golden, a 1930’s Hollywood movie mogul. “My roles in Baby Jane provide important plot information and to do so in hopefully wildly comedic fashion,” Jenkins commented. “They are also intended to stand as symbols of the darker forces that can surround any star. This combined with an absence of compassion can enable a descent into madness and despair.”
Dave Finch a noted pianist/musician displays his talents as a vaudeville pianist and as Edwin Flagg. He says of Edwin, “This part lets me explore playing a lazy mamma’s boy that decides to take advantage of a washed up albeit scary ex-child star. I enjoy the dichotomy of wanting to be an independent man, yet being sucked in to the doting mother. I am thrilled to work with this talented cast and crew and can’t wait for everyone to see this funny at times thriller!”
Elise Franklin who plays one of the two major roles, says, “What excites me about playing Blanche Hudson is being wheelchair bound for 30+ years. What a challenge to achieve action and mobility and realize my life is threatened and have no way to communicate for help. No way to escape. It makes the stakes much higher in the play, as Baby Jane breaks down mentally and begins her unraveling.”
Mary Kilpatrick whose 50 year career stretches from Broadway to being a noted actress and director is also the artistic director of BEAT the wonderful non-profit for youth theatre arts simply says, “playing Jane is my dream role of a lifetime. The comedy in this dark play is just so delicious to discover and develop.”
Adapted by Ron Spencer from the Henry Farrell novel that later became the screen classic starring Bette Davis and Joan Crawford, Baby Jane is a fascinating blend of comedic almost Moliere like farce and dark, horrific tragedy ala Stephan King. We are all familiar with the tale of the performer who achieves fame and fortune as a child or a teen only to be damaged as a person and ultimately destroyed as an adult by the same success and stardom that defined their early lives.
Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?
TICKETS
2nd Street Theater
www.2ndstreettheater.com
11 performances from February 27-March 14
Directed by Howard Schor and Produced by Howard Schor Productions LLC at Babyjane@bendbroadband.com
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