Where-How & Why My Idea for 'Marilyn's Show Begun
"An Evening With Marilyn*The Musical*
'Her Intimate Self Portrait'
'A Live One Woman Musical Play in Two Acts'-Set on July 28TH, 1962
While living in Paris, I went to see Mr. Bernard Hilda in search of artistic representation. After viewing 10 minutes of the debut of my first one-woman Musical, at the beautiful Cinegrill in the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood, California, he asked me if I would be interested in playing Marilyn Monroe in Paris. His suggestion, at the same time, inspired and intrigued me. I didn’t know much about Marilyn. Immediately in Paris I started my research into articles, books, and CD’s, (which I had no idea existed). Then, I continued my “search for Marilyn” in Los Angeles.
The more I dug into Marilyn’s life the more passionate I became in clearing the many misconceptions that have been perpetrated about her. It’s very easy to 'trash' a woman, any woman, especially one who cannot defend herself and has no family or anyone to stand up for her. Also, something that weighted heavily in my decision to give her “a voice”, was that in my 'search for the truth', I found a documentary where Mr. Miner, (the assistant district attorney of Los Angeles, who was present as Dr. Noguchi did the post mortem examination on Marilyn’s body) said that,
a.) No barbiturates were found in her liver or her stomach, B.) her blood showed traces of 'chloral hydrate', a potent sedative some 'call girls' use to render their 'clients' unconscious and C.) her lower intestine was very swollen, blue and purple, which indicated the Nembutal had been administered through an enema. I asked myself, if I wanted to commit suicide or have an “accidental overdose”, would I give myself an enema to end it all?These findings gave me a strong indication of foul play and the possibility of homicide. For me, it ruled out a suicide or accidental death by overdose.
I have become a true fan of this beautiful woman. I have come to regard her as a dear friend, a 'sister', a close member of my family, with whom I have more in common than I ever suspected. I have come to admire her for her humanity, compassion, wit, her indomitable spirit in overcoming adversity, her tenacity in following her dream and perhaps, her biggest triumph of all, that of becoming a perennial source of inspiration for future generations. Her story has been told by thousands. It’s time she told her story in her own words. It’s time perhaps we get to know the woman behind the image, behind the myth.
I wrote, produced, directed and performed “An Evening With Marilyn *The Musical * Her Intimate Portrait", set on July 28th 1962” to show how happy she was at that point in her life, that Marilyn, was finally beginning to find her true self, her true happiness, and had no reason to end her promising future. I did it for Norma Jean, 'the child' and her dreams, 'the girl' and her battles, and for 'the woman' who was finally ready for her future. I wrote “An Evening…..” for 'all women' and for 'anyone', who at one time or another in their life, has been hastily and unjustifiably labeled and misjudged by individuals, driven by ill will and malicious beliefs, merely based on misconceptions and prejudice.
RoxannaBonilla-Giannini
***
I would like to thank Mr. Bernard Hilda de "Consortium Artistique International (agence artistique) (depuis 1973),
in Paris',
for finding 'Marilyn' in me; for the challenge he gave me to continue growing, and 'opening my heart and mind' to new horizons and fresh possibilities, ready for greater opportunities in the future.
Bernard Hilda et son Orchestre : Champs-Elysées Club - Les Grands Orchestres du Music-Hall
La Carrière de Mr Hilda: Chef d’orchestre au Brésil, aux Etats-Unis et en Europe (1953-57), Producteur de télévision en Espagne (1957-59), Directeur artistique de la chaîne des hôtels Hilton en Europe et au Moyen Orient (1961), Chef d’orchestre de l’émission télévisée la Piste aux étoiles (1952-73), Directeur du Consortium Artistique International (agence artistique) (depuis 1973), Directeur artistique du cabaret La Belle Epoque (1974-85), Membre définitif de la Société des auteurs, compositeurs et éditeurs de musique (Sacem). Œuvres : musique et paroles de nombreuses chansons françaises, musique de cirque. Distinctions : Officier des Arts et des Lettres,
Chevalier du Mérite artistique italien.
The more I dug into Marilyn’s life the more passionate I became in clearing the many misconceptions that have been perpetrated about her. It’s very easy to 'trash' a woman, any woman, especially one who cannot defend herself and has no family or anyone to stand up for her. Also, something that weighted heavily in my decision to give her “a voice”, was that in my 'search for the truth', I found a documentary where Mr. Miner, (the assistant district attorney of Los Angeles, who was present as Dr. Noguchi did the post mortem examination on Marilyn’s body) said that,
a.) No barbiturates were found in her liver or her stomach, B.) her blood showed traces of 'chloral hydrate', a potent sedative some 'call girls' use to render their 'clients' unconscious and C.) her lower intestine was very swollen, blue and purple, which indicated the Nembutal had been administered through an enema. I asked myself, if I wanted to commit suicide or have an “accidental overdose”, would I give myself an enema to end it all?These findings gave me a strong indication of foul play and the possibility of homicide. For me, it ruled out a suicide or accidental death by overdose.
I have become a true fan of this beautiful woman. I have come to regard her as a dear friend, a 'sister', a close member of my family, with whom I have more in common than I ever suspected. I have come to admire her for her humanity, compassion, wit, her indomitable spirit in overcoming adversity, her tenacity in following her dream and perhaps, her biggest triumph of all, that of becoming a perennial source of inspiration for future generations. Her story has been told by thousands. It’s time she told her story in her own words. It’s time perhaps we get to know the woman behind the image, behind the myth.
I wrote, produced, directed and performed “An Evening With Marilyn *The Musical * Her Intimate Portrait", set on July 28th 1962” to show how happy she was at that point in her life, that Marilyn, was finally beginning to find her true self, her true happiness, and had no reason to end her promising future. I did it for Norma Jean, 'the child' and her dreams, 'the girl' and her battles, and for 'the woman' who was finally ready for her future. I wrote “An Evening…..” for 'all women' and for 'anyone', who at one time or another in their life, has been hastily and unjustifiably labeled and misjudged by individuals, driven by ill will and malicious beliefs, merely based on misconceptions and prejudice.
RoxannaBonilla-Giannini
***
I would like to thank Mr. Bernard Hilda de "Consortium Artistique International (agence artistique) (depuis 1973),
in Paris',
for finding 'Marilyn' in me; for the challenge he gave me to continue growing, and 'opening my heart and mind' to new horizons and fresh possibilities, ready for greater opportunities in the future.
Bernard Hilda et son Orchestre : Champs-Elysées Club - Les Grands Orchestres du Music-Hall
La Carrière de Mr Hilda: Chef d’orchestre au Brésil, aux Etats-Unis et en Europe (1953-57), Producteur de télévision en Espagne (1957-59), Directeur artistique de la chaîne des hôtels Hilton en Europe et au Moyen Orient (1961), Chef d’orchestre de l’émission télévisée la Piste aux étoiles (1952-73), Directeur du Consortium Artistique International (agence artistique) (depuis 1973), Directeur artistique du cabaret La Belle Epoque (1974-85), Membre définitif de la Société des auteurs, compositeurs et éditeurs de musique (Sacem). Œuvres : musique et paroles de nombreuses chansons françaises, musique de cirque. Distinctions : Officier des Arts et des Lettres,
Chevalier du Mérite artistique italien.