15/06/26

Assembly Roxy (Upstairs), Edinburgh

Who doesn’t love Bette Davis? Now Voyager, All About Eve: they’re both great pieces of cinema. 

But of course, later in her career when she was struggling to keep going outside the studio system, that was an entirely different kettle of celluloid. The once-adored superstar was aging fast and had to fight for parts in smaller films. This delightful musical focuses on the year 1975, when Bette (Annie Meek Montgomery) has secured a supporting role in a horror movie called Burnt Offerings, mostly through the persistence of her loyal assistant, Don (Coleson Berlin). 

Her co-stars are Karen Black (Laura Dillman Frank), who is pregnant and proving ‘difficult’, and Oliver Reed (Aaron Novak), already establishing quite the reputation as a hard-drinking hell-raiser. There’s also occasional  interference from Bette’s strange daughter, BD Hyman (Grace Olinsky), who seems convinced that her mom is actually using black magic on everyone who gets in her way…

If much of what occurs here induces some eyebrow-raising, a quick flick around Google will assure you that this is mostly based on fact – except, of course, for those visits from Amelia Earhart, who has an unfortunate propensity for breaking wind at inopportune moments…

The Bloody Ballad of Bette Davis by Brooklyn-based Piper Theatre Productions is a camp musical fantasia, written and directed by John P McEneny with memorable songs by Ron Parker (the title piece is a particular ear-worm. I emerge humming it maniacally).

The five-strong cast give this their all; I’m especially dazzled by Montgomery’s steely impersonation of the titular star, chain- smoking her way through the indignities piled upon her as she doggedly navigates the troublesome shoot. I love too the distinctive 70s costumes, the guest appearances from muppet-like creatures and the effective way that a few wooden rectangles are put to use for a whole series of different purposes. At one point one of them is even pressed into service as Earhart’s aeroplane. A final appearance by Betty and Don as glittering gay icons offers a delightful ending.

Fast-paced, inventive and very, very funny, TBBOBD is the perfect vehicle for a fun hour at the Fringe. If you don’t come out humming that theme song, there’s something wrong with you. Fasten your seat belts, it’s going to be a bumpy ride!

4.6 stars

Philip Caveney