- PREMIÈRED EDINBURGH FESTIVAL 1997 - ASSEMBLY ROOMS
- NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL TOUR 1998
- PRESENTED BY GUY MASTERSON PRODUCTIONS
- written by willard sims
- performed by Beth Fitzgerald
- directed by Guy Masterson
- NOMINATED: THE STAGE BEST ACTRESS 1997
SHE WAS THE PRINCESS DIANA OF THE THIRTIES
Zelda Sayre was the Princess Diana of her day... The darling of the tabloids... the First Flapper. Together, she and her famed husband, F. Scott Fitzgerald, led a crazed existence. The beautiful and daring Zelda became the embodiment of the spirit of the Roaring Twenties and the inspiration for many of Scott's fictional characters. But the Fitzgeralds publicly scorned convention and destroyed much of what lay in their path.
In 1930 Zelda was diagnosed schizophrenic and for the next 18 years she lived a tortured life moving from institution to institution. She died in a fire at her last mental hospital in 1948 at the age of 48.
Bye Bye Blackbird premiered in the UK at the 1997 Edinburgh Festival where it was presented with Guy Masterson's other directorial hit, Playing Burton by Mark Jenkins. Beth Fitzgerald, who won the prestigious Stage Award for Best Actress '96 for her performance in The House of Correction (also produced and directed by Guy Masterson). Beth was once again nominated in '98 for Bye Bye Blackbird. The production received exceptional reviews and enjoyed sellout success.
BYE BYE BLACKBIRD: Reviews
"a stunning performance... with riveting power and a mesmeric self control" (The Scotsman)
"An electric portrayal... truly awe-inspiring... With feline grace, Fitzgerald takes her subject to the abyss before pulling Zelda back right before our eyes. Amazing!" (The Herald)
NOMINTATED: BEST ACTRESS 2007 - The Stage
"Literature lovers should revel in this..." (Edinburgh Evening News)
"A visceral performance of exquisite passion and tenderness" (Tatler)
