The Monarch Of Hollywood

Presented by Syncretism

It is 1955 and searing hot summer in Hollywood, LA. I a remodelled home in the hills lives the budding movie star, Rock Hudson. Tensions are high as he awaits the outcome of a test screening of his new fil,. The two female members of the household are Chaddy - boisterous jazz singer and his closest
friend - and Bridget - cook, cleaner and general 'hand'.
Bridget's 'mission' in life is to care for her brother, Paul, who is wheelchair bound since childhood.

When Rock's movie agent, Howard Stephenson, arrives with news of how the screenig went, with him is Daisy Mae, a on'time child star who is no Howard's typist.
The unexpected appearance of Rock's secret lover, Juan, opens up an interior landscape of a group of people trapped in a far-from-simple domestic situation, under the spotlight of Hollywood's gossip-columnists. "A Monarch in Hollywood" is a fictional account of the home life of one of the era's biggest stars that drws into perspective his poignant and lasting legacy.

Show Reviews

"Irish playwright Aidan Harney's reworked 'A Monarch in Hollywood' was given and more static production immediately afterwards. Based loosely on the conflicts facing a young Rock Hudson, pressurised to be straight in order to pursue a career as a Hollywood heart throb, some excellent performances dominated Director Roberto Nisi's production with Syncretism. This strong cast suffered a little from immobility and the challenge of audibility, despite the attention of the crowd, and the co-operation of the bar staff. However what ensued was a moving portrayal of the effects of imposed heterosexualism and its impact on the lives of a close circle of family and business friends. The restrictions of a reading proved no difficulty to actors Elizabeth Lambert as the weary Irish housekeeper Bridget and to a sparkling Graham Cruz as Rock's Mexican lover Juan. Mary Healy's Daisy Mae, Simon Vinnicombe's Rock, and Conor Ryan's Paul contributed strongly to the success of this reading. Harney's play falls somewhat between drama and film script. At times key dramatic scenes which could be staged were left to narrative ( sometimes inaudible), The black characters need to be more centrally placed in the action, especially what is currently a rather thankless role, Chaddy, well played by Carolyn Tomkinson. In all Harney captured a time, a culture, and interpersonal relationships controlled by the pressure from outside to conform, effectively and realistically. The obvious next step is to continue to develop this piece through a full on stage production. I look forward to that." - Gordon Farrell - Scene City, June 2004