The enduring legacy of Marylin Monroe is coming to The Mill

Posted on 6 August, 2024

Talent, beauty, innocence, charisma, and tragedy – even over six decades after her death, there’s something about the story of Marylin Monroe.

Maybe it was her meteoric rise to fame on the silver screen or, maybe it’s because we don’t truly know who the real Marylin was when the camera stopped rolling. Either way, her legacy in film, art, and pop culture continues to burn bright – and one local theatre will be bringing her most enduring works to the stage for a limited run.

Celebrating the extraordinarily talented actress who broke barriers during the golden age of film, Some Like It Marylin will transform the Mill Theatre at Dairy Road into a Hollywood film studio set this August to celebrate some of Marylin’s best performances.

Created by Canberra actor-producer Lexi Sekuless 15 years ago and performed as a one-woman show at the ANU’s Teatro Vivaldi restaurant, Some Like It Marylin has previously played to sell-out audiences in Canberra in 2010 and 2017.

Coming back to the stage – some might say that Lexi had a Seven Year Itch – she’ll once again be stepping into the shoes of Marylin herself to bring the blonde bombshell to life. Described as a film-o-graphic look at who the woman was through her work, the production will follow fragments of Marilyn’s life through her iconic songs, and movie scenes.

“The audience sees a huge amount of Marilyn’s work in this show, and you learn about her via that display of work. In this way, there is no scandal, no gossip, and no slander,” explains Lexi.

“We can leave that to all the books, and all the people who try to ‘own’ these stars after their death.”

Along with songs from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, River of No Return, Let’s Make Love as well as scenes from Bus Stop and Some Like It Hot, in this revised edition of the show, audiences will also hear from Marylin’s colleagues – including Jane Russell, Tony Curtis, Joe DiMaggio, Billy Wilder, and Lee Strasberg – about her work and life.

While it stays true to the cabaret style of the initial shows created by Lexi, actor Helen McFarlane says this latest version of Some Like It Marylin is a beautiful, theatrical, funny, and moving sojourn through Marilyn’s rise and fall.

“It’s full of songs, movie scenes, dance numbers, and magic moments. It honours her short life, with voices from the people and stars she worked with and pays homage to her great acting potential in the making,” she explains.

“I think the show has been transformed beautifully, in a deliciously designed set, balanced with iconic glamourous musical numbers that ‘drip’ with Marilyn-ness and the gentler, moving moments and scenes that will leave the audience pondering just how such a beautiful, talented actress with the world at her feet – who was wanted by men and envied by women – could have been so lonely and so lost.”

Helen McFarlane and Lexi Sekuless as Jane Russell and Marylin Monroe.

Playing American actress and model Jane Russell, triple threat Helen admits that stepping into the shoes of one of Hollywood’s leading sex symbols in the 1940s and 1950s is a daunting task.

Singing, dancing, and acting alongside Lexi, while she will be portraying Jane’s style, vocal cadence, and sass, the focus isn’t to imitate her exactly but to capture her essence and bring it to the stage.

“Interestingly, Jane and Marilyn only made one movie together, the one that launched Marilyn into stardom – Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. Jane knew that Marilyn was scared, shy, and sensitive so she took her under her wing,” says Helen.

“Jane witnessed Marilyn discover her gifts; a flair for comedy, and her natural sense of timing all coupled with that vulnerable, innocent sexiness. Combined with the more confident, wiser, and brassier Jane, the movie was a sensation.”

“I am not her and I am not trying to do an impersonation of her. I think audiences can accept this if you don’t hold back, you are not guarded or self-conscious and you throw yourself into the songs and the role.”

For Lexi, capturing the myth of Marylin is also no easy task.

Feeling the weight of responsibility to authentically represent the actress, Lexi might be no stranger to impersonating Marylin’s distinctive voice (something she’s worked hard at mastering) but she knows there was so much more to Marilyn than meets the eye.

“It’s very important to honour legends and to be careful with myths and icons. I find myself re-awakening the process so that I can concentrate on that,” she says.

“Over the years I’ve realised you need a special combination of things to help meet characters like this. For Maz, I think it is the hair, my acting and the iconic dresses. Without all three I find the audience doesn’t quite get all of her.”

Lexi Sekuless as Marylin Monroe.

Also featuring the famous costumes from her films, Some Like It Marylin is a glamorous and fun homage to the actress and model, as well as a reminder that celebrity and fame don’t necessarily lead to happiness.

But why do people remain so fascinated by Marylin Monroe? Even after playing her on and off for 15 years, Lexi still doesn’t quite know.

“This is THE question. I think she is three very appealing things – childlike, sexy, and vulnerable. Most of us have one of these in play at different times in our lives, but she had all three, all the time.”

While we will never know who the true Marilyn was, we do know one thing: her enduring legacy is her work – and this is the perfect tribute to the woman who once said, “I don’t want to make money, I just want to be wonderful.”

There’s no denying that she achieved this goal in the eyes of millions.

Photography: Esh Photography.