As part of this year’s Guildford Fringe in September, journalist and editor Jackie Mitchell (aka Doris Daydream) will be performing as the iconic singer and actress Doris Day (1922-2019) in The Doris Show. It will then be part of the Liverpool Fringe in October.
“The Doris Show starring Doris Daydream celebrates the music and the life of Doris Day, the legendary movie star and singer. The one-hour tribute show gives an insight into Doris’ life and features all of her big hits including “Secret Love”, “Deadwood Stage”, “Black Hills of Dakota”, “Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps” and of course the acclaimed “Que Sera, Sera”.”
Your show is a tribute to Doris Day, who was one of the great actresses of the classic Hollywood era. What drew you to her?
I’ve always loved Doris Day films such as Pillow Talk and Calamity Jane, but it was the songs which really drew me to her.
They are timeless and uplifting, and as I’ve discovered, popular among all age groups. It’s wonderful to hear audiences singing along – they seem to know all the words!
What can you tell us about the show? Does it draw on her life as well as her career?
The Doris Show looks back over Doris Day’s life – how she started, her husbands (there were lots of those!), her leading men and her lifelong love of animals.
With songs like Perhaps, Perhaps, Secret Love and the acclaimed Que Sera Sera – so there are plenty of opportunities for a singalong!Â
There seems to be a resurgence of interest and shows about stars like Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, Ann Miller, Hedy Lamarr and Elizabeth Taylor. Why do you think audiences still engage with these women?
These women give people a sense of nostalgia and old-style Hollywood glamour, and they became successful in a challenging era for women. Many had a difficult start in life and achieved great things against all odds.
They were all exceptionally talented and appeared in classic, memorable films such as Some Like It Hot, Cleopatra, and My Fair Lady.
Tell me about the Fringe festivals your show is going to, and what Fringe means to you?
So far, The Doris Show is booked for the following venues. The shows are one hour long without an interval.
- The Guildford Fringe Festival on Wednesday, September 9 at 7.30pm at The Star Inn, Quarry Street, Guildford. Â
- The Liverpool Fringe Festival on Tuesday, October 6 at 6pm at Studio Beyond, Wood St, Liverpool L1 4AL.
Fringe means a great deal to me as it gives performers like me a chance to showcase our material and provides audiences with an eclectic mix of shows to choose from. In a way, it is the equivalent of Victorian Music Hall.
What’s next for you?
After these Fringe Festivals, I will be taking my Christmas Doris Day show to care homes, community centres, retirement villages and other events. I’m planning a new show and will be trying a couple of new Fringe Festivals next year.