Throw away that “Hairspray” and pick up a bottle of peroxide because the newest coiffure- theatrical trendsetter for 2009 has arrived in the guise of pop culture’s most legendary blonde – Norma Jeane Mortenson, a.k.a. Marilyn Monroe.
Blondes may have more fun, but the award-winning, one woman sensation Marilyn: Forever Blonde has had audiences and theatre critics realizing that watching actor Sunny Thompson’s portrayal of the blonde goddess can be vicariously as enjoyable. Just ask the late, infamous bitchy style guru Mr. Blackwell, who, after witnessing a performance was quoted as saying, “Sunny Thompson could win every known award for this masterpiece performance… it actually brought tears to my eyes.” And indeed has been raking in the awards and accolades from L.A. to Dayton and has been entertaining audiences in over a dozen cities in North America and recently in New Zealand.
The basic concept of the play was conceived by award-winning writer/producer Greg Thompson who poured over hundreds of personal writings by Monroe in preparation for the script. But perhaps Greg Thompson’s most unlikely challenge was convincing his wife Sunny, a stunning blonde in her own right, to step into the leading role.
“I never thought about or ever wanted to play Marilyn Monroe!” laughs Sunny Thompson. “What girl in her right mind would want to be to be compared to the most famous screen goddess of all- time? I told my husband no a hundred times!”
However, undaunted, Greg was able to find the inspiration that finally got Sunny to make the leap, in world famous Marilyn impersonator Jimmie James.
“My husband asked me if he hired Jimmie to work with me for a week and if Jimmie thought I could pull it off, would I do it? I said yes, and here I am! If it wasn’t for my husband, Jimmie James and my director Stephanie Shine I would have never had the nerve to take this project on.“
In February, 2006 Marilyn: Forever Blonde made its debut at the Stella Adler Theatre in Hollywood, California directly across from Marilyn’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
“Opening night was terrifying! There were so many people in the audience who knew Marilyn personally; Stanley Rueben, producer of Marilyn’s film The River Of No Return (filmed right here in Alberta), Marion Collier and several other actresses who were in Some Like It Hot and the late Mr. Blackwell of the Worst & Best Dressed List, who was a personal friend of Marilyn. Also in the house that night was Greg Schreiner, Pres. of Marilyn’s fan club and owner of Some Like It Haute (the costume exhibition currently on exhibit at the Glenbow Museum). Upon (Schreiner’s) arrival at the theatre he declared that he ’hated most everything done on Marilyn!’ They are all very protective of her image.“
“Opening night, before the play I sincerely questioned my sanity for taking on such a project! It was quite a relief when the play received a standing ovation and the wholehearted endorsement of people who actually knew Marilyn... it was very validating! They came to my dressing room and shared first hand stories of their experiences with Marilyn Monroe. Mr. Blackwell greeted me with ’I never thought I would see you again.’ It was kind of spooky.“
And how did the President of Marilyn’s Fan Club, perhaps poised to be the play’s toughest critic, react to the performance?
“Greg Schreiner booked out an entire night for his fan club to see the play. And he invited me to his house to see many of the items of his Some Like It Haute exhibition. Amongst personal items he has many of her gowns. They are lovingly wrapped in acetone free paper in beautiful blue boxes. He even let me try one on! He said he had never allowed that of anyone before. It was an amazing honour...and it fit...perfectly!”
It appears as if the dress wasn’t the only perfect fit for Sunny Thompson. For years people have made familiarity remarks to Sunny about her resemblance to Monroe. But how alike are they really?
“We are both 5’5”. Marilyn weighed between 118-136...so do I. We are both bleached blonde’s, blue eyed and curvaceous. Beyond that it takes me 2 1/2 hours in makeup, a fabulous wig, some glamorous costumes as well as a couple of scrumptious bathrobes to bring her to life. Oh! And Marilyn drank Dom Perignon and I drink Marilyn Merlot!“
The party for Sunny doesn’t seem to want to wind down. After traveling to over a dozen cities with producer/husband Greg by her side, Sunny now looks forward to wowing Calgarians. The show begins January 22nd and runs until February 22nd at the Conoco Theatre in the Glenbow Museum, where the aforementioned Some Like It Haute exhibit and Marilyn: Life as a Legend, a dizzying display of multi-media works of Marilyn’s image, are currently displayed until the end of February.
“I have never been to Calgary. We are very excited. It’s always fun to present the play in tandem with Life Is A Legend. But this is the first time that Some Like It Haute will be a part of the experience. I can’t wait for audiences to see the play, view the exhibition and be able to see her personal gowns, jewelry, movie chair, scripts, letters, contracts etc. These three elements will give anyone amazing insight into the life of Marilyn Monroe.“
And while this is Sunny’s first time in Calgary, the play has toured in Canada previously.
“We had such a great time in Nova Scotia last February. We’re ready for the cold and excited to meet some more warm-hearted Canadians in Calgary. “
And how is domestic life being on the road with her husband who also wears the writer/producer hat? Sunny takes it all in stride, “Most days it’s great! He’s a wonderful producer and writer. But I hate getting notes from him...we have to limit that to once a week in writing. The good part of working and travelling together is that we are so fortunate to experience so many wonderful places together!”
The inevitable question arises when discussing Monroe with groups of gay men. Why do so many gays and lesbians crush on Marilyn Monroe, especially so many years after her death? I wondered if Marilyn: Forever Blonde had generated a gay and lesbian fan base?
“We do have a large gay and lesbian audience which is great! “ Thompson says exuberantly. “Because gay and lesbian audiences get everything; every nuance, every joke, every emotion. For an actor, that kind of a response from an audience is a dream!”
And as for Marilyn’s lasting legacy? “Marilyn’s timeless appeal may be in part due to the fact that she died young and beautiful and of course the mystery surrounding her death leaves us with an eternal question. I would also attribute the world’s fascination of Marilyn to the kindness in her eyes. She has accessibility when you see a movie or a photo of her, you believe she would be your friend, she would be fun. Regardless of your motives for eliciting her friendship...she would never be too good for you. I like that about her.”
“It’s been an honor to bring Marilyn back to life if even for a couple hours each evening.“
Matt Salton is the festival director of the Fairy Tales International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival in Calgary. He can be reached for comment at reelpublicity@yahoo.ca
