Marilyn Monroe Play Offers No New Insights Into Her Death

Sharleen Cooper Cohen's play, "Who Killed Marilyn?", presented at the Emerald Theatre in London, attempts to explore the life and death of the iconic Marilyn Monroe. The production, which features Pixie Lott in the titular role, revisits the enduring mystery surrounding Monroe's demise at the age of 36. According to the play's narrative, as conveyed by Lott's portrayal of Monroe, approximately 600 books have been published about the star since her death in 1962. This statistic underscores the persistent public fascination with her life and the circumstances of her passing.

The play delves into the numerous conspiracy theories that have emerged over the decades, questioning the official cause of death, which was ruled an overdose. These theories range from allegations of a contract killing orchestrated by the Kennedy family, due to Monroe's alleged possession of compromising information (kompromat), to potential involvement of the mafia. The production also touches upon specific details that have fueled speculation, such as the administration of an enema on the night of her death. These questions have been a focal point for "Monroe obsessives" and continue to be debated among fans and researchers.

Despite the wealth of material and the inherent intrigue of the subject matter, "Who Killed Marilyn?" is described as a "dismal attempt" to solve the mystery. The review suggests that the drama largely relies on a "trot through Monroe's life" that is narrated through clichés, failing to move beyond the well-trodden paths of existing narratives. The play does not appear to offer any groundbreaking revelations or novel interpretations of the events leading up to Monroe's death, nor does it provide a definitive resolution to the long-standing questions. The expectation that the drama would present something beyond the "slew of familiar theories" is ultimately unmet, leaving the audience with little new to gain from the production.