Bette and Joan

Felicity Dean as Joan Crawford offers a contrast, presenting Crawford as the more polished and restrained of the pair. Dean’s performance leans into Crawford’s prim and proper demeanour while hinting at the insecurities beneath the surface. The characters’ debates—about the merits of actors versus movie stars, their influence on directors, and their respective legacies—are often laced with wit. Anecdotes, such as the infamous weight belt story, and Pepsi Cola add a sense of nostalgia and insight into their lives, though these moments sometimes lack emotional depth. For instance, while the play briefly touches on the "casting couch" culture of old Hollywood, it doesn’t delve deeply into its implications, missing an opportunity for greater resonance.

The studio theatre setting enhances the intimacy of the production, with the audience seated along two sides of the stage. Neil Gordon’s set and costume design effectively divides the space along a diagonal, with each actress occupying her own dressing room. The dressing room mirror frame serves as a symbolic and practical divider, cleverly leaving out the mirror itself to maintain sightlines and visual openness. Particularly compelling are the moments when both characters simultaneously apply lipstick, their movements mirroring each other and reinforcing the play’s themes of rivalry and reflection. The addition of personalised director’s chairs with the actresses' names adds a charming nod to old Hollywood, while Bette’s frequent cigarette lighting further creates the era.