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Kilgallen's Kennedy Conspiracy: A Play Unveiled
6 Nov
Summary
- Play explores journalist Dorothy Kilgallen's JFK/RFK theories.
- Marilyn Monroe's death links to political cover-ups.
- Theatrical production features sharp dialogue and flashbacks.
Trevor Nunn directs Torben Betts's play, centering on American journalist Dorothy Kilgallen and her theories surrounding the deaths of Marilyn Monroe and the Kennedys. Set in the 1960s, the narrative unfolds through Kilgallen's conversations with her babysitter, Flo, interspersed with vivid flashbacks. These scenes depict Monroe with Robert F. Kennedy and Lee Harvey Oswald interacting with criminal mastermind Carlos Marcello.
Kilgallen's unpublished book suggested a connection between political cover-ups and organized crime that she believed led to Monroe's death. While the play's plot device of Kilgallen explaining her theories to a stranger is convenient, the production itself is smoothly executed. Natalie Dunne's portrayal of Marilyn Monroe is a standout, capturing vulnerability and strength.
Lee Newby's rotating set design transitions elegantly between timeframes. The play touches upon Oswald's alleged ties to Marcello and Ruby, and even hints at questions surrounding Kilgallen's own death in 1965, leaving some threads unresolved.
