'Dirty Blonde' Mae West Shows Saturday at Chesterfield Mall

Dirty Blonde—written by Claudia Sheer and conceived by Sheer and James Lupine—explores the life and career of an American original, Mae West, who thrilled audiences in her heyday and eventually descended into self-parody (she was still attempting to play the sex siren into her '80s.)

The play will be presented at Dramatic License Productions in the Artropolis section of Chesterfield Mall, 8 p.m., beginning Thursday, September 15 and running through October 2. The play is one of the few in history to have its entire cast nominated for Tony awards.

West's story is told through a series of flashbacks when two self-described losers meet at her gravesite and discover their mutual love of West. It is through the development of their relationship and their recounting events from Mae's life and career that provide the opportunity for flashbacks. When they tell a story about West, the audience will see it played out.

The play is a far cry from a straight impersonation of West spouting her most famous lines, nor a maudlin, saccharin expose', but rather a loving look at an American icon, and equally important, how her life inspires two lonely people to find their perfect match.

Artistic Director of Dramatic License Productions, Kim Furlow, steps into the dual role of Jo—the woman at the gravesite—and Mae West. A seasoned actress herself, Furlow will need to draw on all of her considerable skills as she portrays West from 1911 in vaudeville to 1978 when she made the movie, “Sextet,” a span of 67 years.

“I play Mae from 17 to 85 years old,” Furlow said. “I only do one show a year. I'm doing this before I get too old.”

Furlow will not only need her skills as an actress, but with 15 very fast costume changes as she switches from Jo to West, she'll need stamina as well. “I wish I had started aerobics a year ago,” Furlow said. “But we're having a ton of fun with it and I think the audience will really love it.”

Who doesn't love Mae West? What most people may not be aware of is how driven she was. Her mom got her into show business when she was five years old, and she's a star in vaudeville by the time she's 12.

“She believed she was born to be a star,” Furlow said. “I think that's why she didn't quit when she was ahead—she was driven. In the movie, Sextet, everyone else was doing it as a spoof, but she was taking it seriously. It's really kind of sad.”

The show is both big and small. The cast of three actors play 18 characters, and because the show moves at breakneck speed amongst dozens of scenes, Furlow and crew have incorporated a slide show to let the audience know where the scene is taking place at all times.

As happens with live theatre, problems arise that must be overcome. The show—which includes five songs and incidental music throughout—suddenly lost their pianist. Furlow put out the call over Facebook and through theatre friends.

“That's the challenge of doing live theatre—and also its joy,” Furlow said. “Fortunately, Paul Bryant stepped in at the last minute.”

“Dirty Blonde” is a unique opportunity for residents to see a professional production of a show that Ben Brantley of the N.Y. Times called “hands down the best new American play of the (2000) season.”

“In 35 years of doing plays this is the most challenging I have done with both tech and acting,” Furlow said. “The crew is bigger than the cast. It's truly a group effort.”

What: “Dirty Blonde” by Claudia Sheer

Where: Dramatic License Theatre, Chesterfield Mall (upper level, Sears wing across from Houlihan's)

When: September 15 through October 2, Thursday through Saturday at 8pm, Sundays at 2pm. You must be 18 years or older.

Tickets: $22-$25. Tickets may be purchased on the Brown Paper Tickets website, or call (636) 220-7012 for more information.