Simmering, cinematic speculation asking what really happened the night Marilyn Monroe died
Sometime between 8:30 and 10:30pm on 24th August 1962, Marilyn Monroe – the most photographed person of the 20th century – died aged 36 of barbiturate poisoning. This was ruled a “probable suicide”. That night, the people closest to Monroe gather in her sitting room to unpick what happened, decide how to break the news to the public, and discuss the story they want to tell. The Marilyn Conspiracy imagines this conversation, building a compelling, cinematic narrative that blurs the line between true-crime and compelling drama.
Interspersing this emotional discussion with reconstructions of Monroe’s last few days, the audience get to know Marilyn as more than just the recently-deceased. Genevieve Gaunt shines as Monroe, one minute petulant and fragile at a celebrity party, and the next witty and high-maintenance in a private chat with an old friend. Her breathy delivery embodies Monroe’s other-worldly quality, capturing the pressures of being caught up in the Hollywood media machine.
These interludes are a welcome change of pace from the information-dense conversation, giving the story time to simmer away in the background. Each of these narratives is exciting in its own right, although at times it can be difficult to follow the sequence of events. The show maintains momentum, however, with the help of a strong cast all round. Particular praise is due to Maurey Richards’ doctor caught in a moral quandary, and Susie Amy’s explosive advocacy for a dear friend. Each character feels thought-through, well-realised and complex in their motivations.
This illustrates a benefit of productions based on true events – the characters grow complex by dint of actually having existed. Another advantage is that set-design and costume have a wealth of information to play with. The Marilyn Conspiracy’s stage is a shrine to 1960s opulence, drawn from magazine photographs of Monroe’s final residence taken shortly before her death. This attention to detail is also evident in the sound and lighting, particularly in transitions, which wonderfully build tension between the parallel narratives.
The mark of an effective real-life story is whether the audience leaves wanting to know more about its subject matter, and judging by interval conversations The Marilyn Conspiracy delivers. Although I remain unconvinced of the importance of a movie star’s death more than 60 years ago, I was gripped throughout its two and a half hour runtime. The writers’ passion for Monroe clearly shines through, and they make a compelling case for the conspiracy theories which continue to swirl around her death. What results is a tense, simmering drama that nails its execution.
The Marilyn Conspiracy plays at the Park Theatre until 27th July Monday-Saturday, with Thursday and Saturday matinees. Tickets are available here.