Jackie and Marilyn, now at the Lion Theatre at Theatre Row, is an imagining of one of American history’s most famous love triangles: that of philandering President John F. Kennedy, his elegant wife, Jacqueline, and the glamorous starlet Marilyn Monroe.
The production’s costume and wig/makeup design, done by Aleksandra Stojic Zurovac and Ljupka Arsovska, respectively, is particularly successful in bringing alive two women about whom so much has been said and speculated; indeed, the play’s title establishes that JFK is an afterthought. Playwright Sheri Graubert appears to have gleaned much information from Christopher Andersen’s 2013 These Few Precious Days: The Final Year of Jack with Jackie, which contains a wealth of new information about JFK’s affair with Marilyn. The book and play both allege that Jackie knew about all her husband’s extramarital trysts but was particularly threatened by Marilyn’s ability to publicly humiliate her family.
As Jackie, Lorraine Farris lends the First Lady more depth and less iciness than is usually allowed her in the media. Lella Satie also embodies her role as Marilyn well but unfortunately does not have great material with which to work; a crying scene after JFK dumps her in the play’s latter half is far too long and a kiss between the two women seems rather gratuitous. Additionally, the character’s breathily calling JFK “Mr. President” even in private is cringe inducing. Aaron Mathias’ portrayal of the politician is an appropriate mixture of charismatic and slimy, but he has not succeeded in mastering the distinctive Kennedy accent. Overall, Jackie and Marilyn is an entertaining enough account of events about which the public will never really have conclusive answers but which nevertheless does not cease to fascinate.
Jackie and Marilyn is playing through May 3rd at The Lion Theatre, located at 410 W. 42nd Street.
