A one-woman powerhouse
Theater: Screen legend is as barbed and lovable as ever in inspired ‘Carole’
By DON GRIGWARE
Staff Writer
Carole Lombard
was a star of the silver screen in the silent pictures of the '20s and
light comedies of the '30s. She is widely remembered for such films as
"Twentieth Century" with John Barrymore and "Made For Each Other" with her
future husband, Clark Gable. She had a reputation for being a
straightforward, no-nonsense kind of gal who always spoke her mind. She was
given a Medal of Honor by F.D.R. for her participation in war bond sales
during WWII. In 1942, at the age of 33, she was tragically killed in a
plane crash while returning from a U.S.O. Tour. There was no one quite like
the great Carole Lombard and no one will ever replace her.
Taking that into
consideration, Tara Walden does a splendid job of recreating the public
side of Lombard's life in a very endearing tribute to the magnificent star.
A tall and statuesque beauty, Walden portrays Lombard in a one-woman play
called "Carole," now playing at the Tiffany Theatre.
With "Carole,"
writer Robert Stecher has crafted a fun and enjoyable play that movie buffs
of the '20s, '30s and '40s are sure to adore.
Born Jane Peters
in Indiana in 1908, Lombard traveled to California with her mother and
brothers at a young age. Too young to have remembered her father's illness,
she always believed that he had abandoned her. Fittingly, she eventually
married a much older man, actor William Powell, who was 16 years her
senior. In 1924, at the age of 16, she auditioned for both Charlie Chaplin
and Mary Pickford. She lost both parts, but was bit by the acting bug.
Jane Peters
eventually became Carole Peterson, later Carole Knight and finally Carole
Lombard, with the two-syllable last name that would make her a star. She
began in Westerns, where she learned to talk tough and curse like "one of
the boys."
Walden is
wonderful at recreating the sarcastic and free-spirited personality of
Lombard. Great dialogue and classic one-liners are spread throughout
"Carole," such as, "Joan Crawfordsounds like somethin' you'd order in a
seafood restaurant" and "Hollywood is such a f---in' classy town," proving
how thoroughly the creators of "Carole" have a grasp on Lombard's
personality.
Before Clark
Gable, the greatest love of Lombard's life was musician Russ Colombo, who
died tragically in a freak gun accident before she was able to marry him.
Toward the end of Act One there is a segment that touches on the Colombo,
during which Walden displays a lovely singing voice with a fine rendition
of "You're My Everything." The second act is devoted to the star's
patriotic turn at selling war bonds, and also to her adoration of Clark
Gable, whom she nicknamed "Pa." Perhaps another Freudian slip?
Walden wears
some gorgeous clothes and furs that are strikingly reminiscent of the '20s,
'30s and '40s, thanks to the diligent costume design of Marilyn Tomlinson.
Black-and-white film clips of newsreel footage of the '20s and '30s are
displayed on a rear view screen when Walden makes her very quick costume
changes. Also, a lighted spiral staircase á là Busbee Berkley gets quite a
bit of use as Lombard's mansion and the Coconut Grove, due to the efficient
set design by Arthur E. Chadwick. Veteran TV director John Purdy ably
stages the piece.
"Carole" is
playing at the Tiffany Theatre, 8532 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, through
Feb. 11. Showtimes are 8 p.m. Thurs. through Sat. and 2 p.m. Sun. Tickets
range from $18 to $32. For more information, call (310) 289-2999.
Copyright 2001 by the Daily Trojan. All rights reserved.
This article was published in Vol. 142, No. 21 (Thursday, February 8, 2001), on page 13.