July, 25, 26, 27 at 8:00 p.m. July 27 at 3:30 p.m.

STARRING and WRITTEN BY LAURA HARRIS

DIRECTED BY JUDITH McDOWELL

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Judy Holliday, Oscar winner for 1950's Born Yesterday, was a 170-IQ genius who specialized in playing dumb blondes - an act that held her in good stead when she was hauled before Senator McCarthy's inquisitors in 1952 on suspician of having communist sympathies. That part of her too-short life is the subject of this evocative play written and sarring Victoria's Laura Harris. Affecting a high-pitched, nasal voice, Harris effectivley channles Holliday in a poignant performance. The excellent sound design, featuring archival voices, adds to the period mood. Directed by Judith McDowell, this thoughtful blonde shows us the courage of a supposed "dizzy dame" who outwitted senatorial thugs while refusing to rat on her friends.

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Pitch Blonde strikes a perfect pitch with this dramatic-comedy chronicling the un-known life of Academy Award -winning American Sweetheart, Judy Holliday. Laura Harris gives an award winning performance in this multi-faceted Holliday Bio-play which dips in and out of the debutante's controversail communitst investigation, her childhood recollections of adbandonment, touches on her brilliant IQ and her auspicious road to stardom. Harris cleverly engages the audience with Holliday's memoirs jumpoing back and forth in time on a voyage exploring her sexual history and her mother's suicide attempt, as well as her so-called "communisit" activities. Thse missteps included having a Russion mother, political activism and her nightclub debut with the Revuers act just before the outbreak of the Second World War.

Laura Harri's easy charisma, wry grin and pitch-perfect imitaion of Holliday's nasal New York twang make this an unforgettable performance and one not to be missed.

Melanie Tromp, The Martlet Victoria Sept 6 2007.

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