Combining acting, puppetry and song, Anna
Skubik plays out a dialogue between Marlene Dietrich, portrayed as a
life size puppet, and her young maid. The play is set at the end of
Dietrich’s life. Despite her fame in the prime of her life, she
died a lonely old woman.
The relationship between the two women is a
combination of affection and aggression. Flashbacks occur and the
bodies of the puppet and maid combine as Dietrich sings. In one of
the songs we see the upper body of the puppet and the legs of the
actress in fishnet stockings.
Anna Skubik displays great dexterity and
skill playing the two parts both in the physical demands required
and in the change of voice as the two women converse. However, it is
a play involving much use of symbolism which can be difficult to
follow at times.
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