The Mainstreet Theatre in Michigan City brings back “Bette Davis on the Edge” after a successful run here in the United States as well as in London.
The one-woman play, which has been staged in New York, Ohio and Peoria, runs July 29 through Aug. 1.
It takes place in 1962. Actress Bette Davis, played by Christine St. John, is in her room awaiting reviews for “Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?”
Director Duane Thompson says that St. John, who also wrote the piece, is a force in recreating the legendary Hollywood star.
“It goes through her history as an actress, through different scenes of her life, her different husbands, and some Academy Awards,” Thompson said. “It’s Bette Davis in her heyday and some challenges she went through.”
The script was researched, written and produced by St. John over the course of seven years, Thompson said.
“It’s a very, very solid show and it has some funny periods too, quite a bit of humor, and some moments too where there’s drama — some heart-wrenching moments that will put you on the edge of your seat. It’s not a campy piece. This is about Bette Davis the woman. Christine St. John is a bit of a feminist and this play is told from the woman’s point of view,” he said.
Thompson stressed that audiences don’t have to be familiar with Bette Davis to enjoy the show.
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“You don’t have to know anything about her other than she was an actress,” he said. “Christine St. John takes on the persona and within the first four minutes you’re captivated. It is a one-woman show but Christine also impersonates Jack Warner and some of these big shots and I can’t praise Christine enough. She just takes control of the audience and gets going until the end.”
Heather Augustyn is a freelance writer.
Bette Davis on the Edge
When: 2 p.m., July 29 and July 30; 8 p.m. July 31; 6:30 p.m. Aug. 1
Where: Mainstreet Theatre, 807 Franklin St., Michigan City
Information: 219-874-4269; festivalplayersguild.org/Shows/Details/?Bette2015
Tickets: $16, students $8 (college students with ID and younger), and seniors $15