 Tallulah Who?
Music & Lyrics: Suzi Quatro and Shirlie Roden.
Book by Willie Rushton.
Queens Theatre, Hornchurch 1991.
Director Chris Renshaw Musical Director: David G. Allen.
Producer: Bill Kenwright.
RIGHTS: Contact: The Singing Earth Music Co. Ltd. Email: enquiries@shirlieroden.com.
Script and video available.
The Life and Times of outrageous American actress Tallulah Bankhead, as seen through the eyes of a BBC TV crew: tv producer Nicholas Bottom is in LA, looking for a ‘star’ to interview. Joan Crawford and Jane Russell are both out of town, but Tallulah Bankhead is available. Who is she? In desperation, Bottom decides to give her a go and discovers that the little lady from Alabama, who scandalised society in the Twenties with her cartwheels in cami-knickers and cocaine habit, is larger than life. Cast size: 8
‘Tallulah Who?’ is arguably the most imaginative and original piece of musical theatre to hit the British stage in recent years. The show provides a ‘no-holds barred’ account of the life of Tallulah up until her death in 1968, with a degree of sympathetic sentimentality based on her sadly futile attempts to attract attention and the pathetic end to her life, but it also finds humour and occasional happiness on the way.’ (Julie Watterston)
‘Suzi Quatro dominates the stage in the title role of Tallulah Who? …With great ingenuity and wit, Willie Rushton uses an interview with a BBC film crew to pack in 60 years of Tallulah’s often tormented life, full of sex, drugs and all that jazz. There is pathos, humour, slapstick and an impressive 17 songs written by Suzi and Shirlie Roden. From cartwheeling and dancing to hasty costume changes, Suzi proves that she has stamina and shows just how perfectly pitched and powerful is her voice…This tribute to the scandalous bisexual Tallulah will be adult entertainment at its best.’ (Romford Observer)
‘The play is raunchy, very funny and risqué. It has some great musical numbers…and Suzi sings the ballads with a sentimentality that brings a lump to the audience’s throat. This tiny power-packed singer proved just what a versatile actress she is with a dazzling performance as the outrageous star in ‘Tallulah Who?’ (Romford Independent)
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© Shirlie Roden, 2005 - 2008.
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