DOROTHY SQUIRES STORY
DOROTHY SQUIRES STORY 
January 1, 2000 - Reviewer: Paul Maloney - The Scotsman. Do we need a play about Dorothy Squires? My only memories are of a rather scary Norma Desmond figure that popped up on the news in the Seventies, usually following a court case. However, Mark Ryan's one-woman show is at least partly validated by the terrific performance it elicits from Gerri Smith, as she surveys the singer's rollercoaster career from the straitened circumstances of her retirement. It was certainly quite a ride, from childhood in the valleys to early success in London and marriage to an older band leader whom she eventually dumped for the young Roger Moore. But then Moore left her for another woman and professional and personal disaster followed. Ryan and Smith don't pull their punches and in Smith's portrayal, Squires is anything but a walk in the park: capricious and argumentative, she emerges as a not particularly likeable figure who blamed everyone else for her misfortunes and never understood that her decline was largely the result of her own self-destructive impulses, in particular her obsession with litigation.
But if Squire's talent redeemed her, Gerri Smith (as seen on the slideshow above) captures perfectly the throaty, lachrymose quality of her vocal style. Juxtaposed with her years of decline, the tortured theatricality of her material, mostly overwrought ballads such as 'When You Lose The One You Love’ starts to seem oddly appropriate. The final image of Squires, resplendent in pink feather boa-trimmed gown, belting out a show-stopping 'My Way' conveys the visceral, almost frightening, intensity of this most frightening of egos. “A terrific performance in which Gerri Smith captures perfectly the throaty, lachrymose quality of her vocal style. Paul Maloney (The Stage). “The one woman performance by Gerri Smith will be the closest you will get to the real thing. Gerri epitomised the legendary star” Rhiannon Beacham. South Wales Argus.
"Smith gives a convincing performance"....The Scotsman “Gerri Smith is on sparkling form” Phil Gibby Terrific Performance by Gerri Smith .......Channel Four
Cardiff…..The play follows her rise to stardom, her love and loss of Roger Moore and her gradual decline to poverty. Littered with humour and songs, the play kept the audience laughing in true Squires style............South Wales Echo.
As seen on a video clip above at a private party recently
The Grand Theatre Swansea..Feb 18th 09….Smith brought an enormous amount of feisty energy to her role…….an affectionate exploration of the star’s rise and decline. The memories came thick and fast. South Wales Echo….
THE DOROTHY SQUIRES STORY
MARK RYAN studied music at Dartington College. He was a founder member of WOT Theatre, writing a number of projects for the company. He wrote THE STRANGE CASE OF DR JEKYLL AND MR HYDE AS TOLD TO CARL JUNG BY AN INMATE OF BROADMOOR ASYLUM for Equinox Theatre. After opening at Edinburgh Fringe, the play was later taken on tour. Mark has done many adaptations for SNAP Theatre, including TOM JONES, FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD and FUNNY BONES. Mark has also been commissioned to write music for many projects.
GERRI SMITH is an actress and singer with wide experience of Theatre, TV and Cabaret. She began her interest in drama at an early age in Llanelli Girls Grammar School and was an enthusiastic member of Playgoers during the 70’s & 80’s performing and directing in many productions at the Dolman. Her association with Jon Styler as musical director goes back to Dance with the Devil and The Late Noel, shows which went to the Edinburgh Festival. Her first professional appearance was in ‘You Never Can Tell’ at the Sherman Theatre in Cardiff.
She appeared in Theatre Clwyd’s National tour of a CHORUS OF DISAPPROVAL, and subsequently in THE SEAGULL and DEATH OF A SALESMAN again for the Sherman Theatre. For HTV she played one of the central roles in SISTERS.
She is a founder member of MURDER ON THE MENU, appearing all over the country in their Cabaret Whodunnits and also on the ORIENT EXPRESS. In a completely different guise, Gerri appeared as VERA LYNN on STARS IN THEIR EYES for Granada Television. Like Dorothy Squires, Gerri comes from South Wales and was educated in Llanelli Grammar School.
JON STYLER writes, directs and performs in musical theatre both nationally and abroad. His musical DANCE WITH THE DEVIL was performed firstly at the Dolman Theatre, Newport and at the EDINBURGH FESTIVAL. He is in demand as a solo pianist, cabaret artiste, accompanist, vocal and piano teacher. His professional association with Gerri Smith has led to many acclaimed performances throughout the country.
CHRISTOPHER MORGAN recently directed Letiita Dean and Matthew Cottle in the National tour of RATTLE OF A SIMPLE MAN. Last year he directed THINKING IN WELSH and FREUD KING OF BURLESQUE. For Chrysalis Theatre he directed the first stage adaptation of Alexander Cordell’s RAPE OF THE FAIR COUNTRY. He also directed two projects for White Horse Theatre in Germany.
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DOROTHY SQUIRES STORY
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