Fringe review: MOTORHOME MARILYN, Gilded Balloon Patter House

Photo credit: Michael Wharley

When you are picking plays from a choice of nearly 4000 shows, you need a hook to catch attention. Motorhome Marilyn had two! Firstly, it uses the tragic story of glamorous sex symbol Marilyn Monroe whom an older generation will know was a huge star who took her own life in mysterious circumstances in 1962. Secondly, they secured the well known actress Michelle Collins to play their central character.

Once again, the producer's intention that this is a play with a future is clear from the detailed set created in the Gilded Balloon Doonstairs venue, littered with Monroe memorabilia, setting the scene for a down on her luck celebrity impersonator travelling America in a motor home looking for her big break .

As a one woman show it puts a lot on the shoulders of the actress and of course, with Collins playing a failed performer, she never quite nails the breathless sexiness of Monroe, although does capture the look in her white dress, and the red dress and blonde wig.

It would have benefited from another character to interact with to reveal her back story rather than being delivered as a long monologue addressed to her pet snake. This draws attention to the aquarium and for most of the play, the ludicrous large headless chicken she feeds it.

The best sequence is her description of the interplay with another lookalike, Captain America, but after that, the revelation of her back story should be more interesting and dramatic. The arrival of a detective might have given Collins more to work with.

*** Three stars

Reviewed by: Nick Wayne

Motorhome Marilyn plays at Edinburgh Festival Fringe until 25 August, with further info here.