When I think of Andy Warhol, two things come to mind: Campbell’s soup and Marilyn Monroe. Even though the prolific artist and filmmaker died in the late 1980s, he remains legendary, with many of us still having at least a passing knowledge of his contributions to pop culture.
I have no idea how close actor William Anthony Sebastian Rose II (Jeff Award winner for “Tambo & Bones”) came to embodying the actual Warhol in his titular role in Terry Guest’s “Andy Warhol Presents: The Cocaine Play,” but it doesn’t matter. His performance was captivating.
This world premiere, written and directed by Guest, and running at Jackalope Theatre through July 6, introduces the audience to a fictionalized Warhol, Marilyn Monroe (Alexis Ward), and Edie Sedgwick (Jasmine “Jazzy” Cheri Rush). As the title suggests, there is plenty of cocaine, alongside the story of struggling artists grappling with the cost of success.
We meet a young, up-and-coming version of Warhol in 1960s New York City. But he has a problem: He hasn’t been able to complete a painting in a very long time. His best friend, and lover, the painter Michael Brown (David Michael Dowd), offers him an opportunity. He lands a gallery show and gives Warhol a slot. By chance, Warhol meets young actress Marilyn Monroe, who inspires him to create a painting — “Marilyn Diptych” — which launches Warhol into superstardom and leaves Brown in the dust.
The ensuing drama is an epic tale of love, passion and betrayal that examines the cost of fame and fortune. How far will an artist go to become a legend? And, once success is achieved, is it even worth it?
The characters here all have problems associated with varying levels of success. Brown helped Warhol when he was down and out, yet when the opportunity arose for the favor to be returned he’s shunned. This leads to a deep seeded jealousy that manifests over years, with Brown feeling like he is owed something he couldn’t have, and as we later learn, perhaps didn’t deserve.
Both Monroe and Sedgwick go through the ringer as actresses. Monroe, who is already successful when introduced, is typecast and only viewed through the lens of her beauty, not her true artistry. Her fate is to be immortalized, but not in the way she wishes. Meanwhile, Sedgwick is never taken seriously and after commercials become the easiest gigs to get, she’s reduced to being known as the girl who sings the Mr. Coffee jingle.
All of the characters, even the rich and famous Warhol, are doomed. And while the journey of the production is enjoyable, with legit laugh out loud moments, it is a tragedy. Guest explores the pitfalls of being an artist and offers a glimpse into their sometimes troubled inner lives.
The production spans three decades and boasts a run time of well over two hours with two intermissions. I’m usually not a fan of shows this long, but here it works. Dowd is excellent as Brown, delivering an agonizing performance as he slips into despair over decades of not achieving the success that was once at his finger tips. Rush, fresh off an impressive performance in Guest’s “Oak,” is equally strong here as Sedgwick.
Rose is a force as the neurotic, flamboyant, coke-fueled Warhol. He breathes so much life into this character with a mixture of deft comedic timing and the ability to make an audience sit with heavy emotion. He’s scathing when necessary but also tender. And his wigs (designed by associate director Ayanna Bria Bakari) are a delight.
The impressive artistry of this production also goes beyond strong writing and acting. The lighting by Levi J. Wilkins and set design by Sydney Lynne Thomas pull this show together. The stage is framed like a portrait, and when the artists paint, they turn to face the audience. Lights flash in corresponding colors, bringing the audience into the creative process, and giving us a sense that we’re inside a painting. It’s a good touch.
In real life, Warhol is credited with popularizing the idea that everyone will be famous for 15 minutes. But here’s the real question at the center of this play: Are those minutes worth your life?