Brief synopsis
1988. A young man rings the doorbell of a small apartment in a European city. A woman aged 62 opens the door and identifies herself as Jane Edwards, but the young man isn’t fooled. He is her biggest fan, and he is sure. One hundred percent sure. The woman in front of him is Norma Jeane Baker. Once better-known as Marilyn Monroe, and dead to the world for 26 years, since 5 August 1962.
Dismayed, the woman invites the young man in. She is afraid that her secret will out, but he makes her a proposal. He wants to know what happened on the last day of her life.
Norma Jeane accepts these terms and begins to recount the story. She speaks of a young girl who finds herself in a Hollywood full of lies, deceit and tinsel. She speaks of how Norma Jeane Baker slowly disappears and transforms into Marilyn Monroe: actor, model and sex symbol. She speaks of how fame initially brought her everything she had ever wanted, and offered her freedom, but of how fame has another side and eventually suffocated her. Nothing blossoms, nothing arises, nothing is ever real under the constantly prying eyes of the oh so critical outside world. And whereas Marilyn initially meant freedom, she was suddenly a prison for Norma Jeane. Her story is one of unattainable love, unfathomable depression, intense sorrow, destructive uncertainty and eternal yearning.
When Marilyn died the world was poorer by one unhappy star, but richer by a liberated woman…
Creatives
| Script: | Allard Blom |
| Music: | Sam Verhoeven |
| Direction: | Martin Michel |
| Stage design (2020): | Joris van Veldhoven |
| Costume design (2017): | Marie Dries |
| Costume design (2020): | Allard Blom |
| Lighting design: | Jeroen Opsteyn (Painting with Light) |
| Sound design: | Philippe Peirsman (Twin4u) |
| Arrangements (2020): | Frans Heemskerk |
| Musical direction (2017): | Thomas Vanhauwaert and Laure Campion |
Productions
Antwerp & Flanders
“Goodbye, Norma Jeane” was a musical creation by Judas Theaterproducties, with a script by Allard Blom, music by Sam Verhoeven and direction by Martin Michel. This trio had previously guaranteed successes such as “De Muze Van Rubens” and “Lelies”. The top cast included none other than Anne Mie Gils, Ann Van den Broeck and Michiel De Meyer. The musical accompaniment was provided by Thomas Vanhauwaert and Laure Campion. The musical could be seen from 9 February to 5 March 2017 in Antwerp, and embarked on a tour of Flanders on 1 January 2018.
The Netherlands
On 10 February 2020 the Dutch version of “Goodbye, Norma Jeane” premièred with Brigitte Heitzer, Ellen Pieters and Soy Kroon in the leading roles. The musical enjoyed unanimous critical acclaim and would run for over 65 performances. Sadly, the COVID virus brought the tour to an end in March 2020.
Germany
On 4 March 2023 the German version premières in the Theater für Niedersachsen. Silke Dubilier, Lucia Bernadas and Louis Dietrich will take on the leading roles.
