PLAYING Hollywood icons and portraying the bitter rivalry they had away from the screen could be a daunting experience for any actor.
But those bringing the intense off-screen relationship between Bette Davis and Joan Crawford to the theatre at Delph’s Millgate Arts Centre cannot wait.
Rachel Harrison and Tracey Rontree have been tasked with bringing the feud to stage in the production Bette & Joan.
The Saddleworth Players production depicts the two stars, in adjacent dressing rooms, between takes on the set of Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?
And they have embraced the challenge of the roles.
“No pressure at all, what an icon she is,” said Tracey, who plays Joan.
“It’s certainly been a challenge but I’m up for it.
“Then challenge has definitely been almost becoming Joan Crawford. I’ve been stidying her for a few months now and watched the film Mildred Pearce.
“I’ve watched Whatever Happened To Baby Jane? As this is set in the dressing room and just watched her in lots of interviews on YouTube, just to try and get her mannerisms and her voice.
“It’s hard work but it’s fun.”
Off-stage, the two actors may be friends but in the production, there is definitely no holding back.
“The relationship between them was certainly fiery,” Tracey added. “And given it’s so well-known, it adds to the actors playing them to convey that on stage.
“As they’re very much out there, even today, people know both of them. Rachel and I get on very, very well but when we get up there, we can properly give it to each other.
“We can really go for it then kiss and make up afterwards.”
Rachel has the role of Bette, who famously became involved in a love triangle with Joan’s then-fiancé, Franchot Tone.
And she cannot wait to show audiences just how fractious the relationship between the pair was.
She said: “I’ve worked with Tracey twice before but because she’s on the other side of the stage it’s very easy to forget she’s there.
“However, when we come to the rivalry bits – we’re literally spitting in each other’s faces!
“It’s absolutely fine, though, as it’s doing what the character would do.
“And the script’s so well written, she’s got some killer lines. The scrip portrays the relationship anyway.
“I’ve looked at lots of interviews Bette did later in her life and have actually grown very fond of her – there was a lot of undercurrent going on.
“I’m definitely Team Bette. 100 per cent.”
Bette & Joan, directed by local amateur stalwart Melvyn Bates, will be performed by the Saddleworth Players at the Millgate Arts Centre from Saturday, February 18 until Saturday, February 25, performances starting at 7.30pm.
Tickets cost £10 for adults and £5 for under-18s and can be bought by clicking www.ticketsource.co.uk/millgateartscentre/bette-joan-by-anton-burge/e-rxrzbl.
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