Celebrity supposedly has a short memory, but The Girl Who Jumped Off the Hollywood Sign is an invocation of the past, attempting to resurrect a tiny vignette of its glamour and its terror. The premise is hinged on the tragic hopefulness that infects Hollywood. An aspiring actress, Evie Edwards - played by Joanne Hartstone - has climbed up on the Hollywood sign in LA, ostensibly in order to commit suicide, following in the tragic footsteps of actress Peg Entwistle.
The show is peppered with references to Old Hollywood stars; Bette Davis, Ginger Rodgers, Jean Harlow, Clara Bow, Theda Bara, Judy Garland. The latter is particularly commented upon, due to Garland’s notorious, drug-induced demise at the hands of the Hollywood ‘dream factory’. At times it’s like watching an adult version of Shirley Temple. Except Temple – like most leading ladies – worked in antithesis to the chorus, allowing the star’s shine to glow brighter. Without this, it’s hard to contextualise Hartstone’s talent.
While Hartstone is undoubtedly talented – it shimmers off of her in light drifts of glitter – this solo show feels a bit like an hour-long audition. As Evie says of the sign, ‘just like everything in Hollywood, it was put up for self-promotion’. While making it a solo show effectively centres Evie’s story, and gives voice to a character who laments being widely ignored while attempting to pursue her dreams, it was a long show for a single character to carry.
This isn’t to say that Hartstone doesn’t carry it well, but when watching a single actress for 1 hour 15 it is easy to feel the concentration drift, and wish for another few characters to relieve the performance of its stationariness. Hartstone launches into several songs and dances, but these occasionally feel hemmed in, and the affected old Hollywood accent – while accurately simpering – can begin to feel grating.
It’s an interesting and frequently informative performance that captivatingly illustrates the darkness of acting: the toll of auditions, the loneliness and brutality of Hollywood. It’s an ideal Fringe watch for actors and those who are fans of old films, but perhaps a little long for a solo show.
The Girl Who Jumped Off The Hollywood Sign is playing 16th, 18th, 20th, 22nd, 24th, 26th August at 11.45am at the Assembly George Square Studios (Studio Two)
For tickets and more information, click here
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