A Night At ‘The Marilyn Conspiracy’, Park Theatre
Last week, London Living had the pleasure of attending The Marilyn Conspiracy at Park Theatre, and it was nothing short of captivating.
The death of Marilyn Monroe has always been a goldmine for conspiracy theorists, much like the assassination of JFK. Intrigued by the various theories surrounding her demise, actress Vicki McKellar and Olivier Award-winning director Guy Masterson have crafted a thrilling narrative that delves into the mysterious circumstances of Monroe’s death on August 4, 1962.
Set in Monroe's Brentwood bungalow, the play is an intricate blend of fact and fiction, focusing on the hours immediately following her death. The set design was simple but highly effective, performed in the round with a slowly revolving stage that added a dynamic to the storytelling. The intimacy of the setup made us feel almost voyeuristic, as if we were peering through the keyhole into a private moment.
The play centres on seven characters who gather in Monroe’s, (Genevieve Gaunt), living room after her body is discovered: her housekeeper Eunice (Sally Mortemore), her doctor Engelberg (Maurey Richards), her psychiatrist Greenson (David Calvitto) and his wife Hildi (Angela Bull), Monroe’s close friend and publicist Pat Newcomb (Susie Amy) and crucially, Peter Lawford (Declan Bennet) and his wife Patricia Kennedy-Lawford (Natasha Colenso), the latter being the sister to both President JFK and Attorney General Bobby Kennedy.
As the story unfolds, the audience is drawn into the murky waters of cover-ups and conspiracies. The official verdict was "probably suicide," yet the five-hour delay in calling the police and the high-profile connections provides the perfect storm for alternative theories. The play, based on Donald H Wolfe’s book The Assassination of Marilyn Monroe, suggests the possibility of murder and a subsequent cover-up, which is both chilling and fascinating.
The characters were convincingly portrayed, with Monroe herself coming across almost as a caricature - which oddly made her portrayal seem more believable. We particularly enjoyed the ad-hoc singing moments which added an extra element of entertainment and evoked a sad sense of nostalgia in those watching. Overall we found Genevieve Gaunt’s performance as Marilyn to be authentic, breathy and charismatic, wonderfully capturing the troubled yet endearing essence of Monroe.
Declan Bennett's portrayal of Peter Lawford was also impressive, providing an uneasy blend of charm and menace, which drove home the power dynamics at play and left us feeling very distrustful towards his character. The script cleverly navigated through arguments, suggestions and refutations, leaving everyone second-guessing his motives and agenda.
The flashbacks used to explore Monroe's relationships with the other characters also worked well, particularly her bond with Pat, played with warmth and empathy by Susie Amy.
As the play progressed, it became evident that this was less about Monroe herself and more about the broader theme of conspiracy and the mechanics of a cover-up. The focus on how power can exert itself over individuals, twist medical ethics, and grind down the good nature of people like Pat and Hildi was both compelling and disturbing.
In conclusion, The Marilyn Conspiracy is a masterful blend of thriller and historical speculation. The play captured the audience's attention from start to finish, making us feel almost complicit in the unfolding drama.
As we left the theatre that evening, we were still left wondering, what really is the truth behind Marilyn Monroe’s death…..
If you're fascinated by Monroe's life and the mysteries surrounding her death, this play is a must-see. It runs at Park Theatre until 27 July, and we highly recommend catching it before it ends!
