Pixie Lott's West End return in the new production "Who Killed Marilyn?" has been met with overwhelmingly negative reviews from theatre critics, who have panned her portrayal of Marilyn Monroe as "laughably awful."
The play, which opened at the Emerald Theatre, explores the life and death of the iconic Hollywood star, delving into the conspiracy theories surrounding her passing at age 36. The production is written by Sharleen Cooper Cohen and directed by Philip William McKinley.
Reviews published after the press night have been nearly unanimous in their condemnation. Patrick Marmion of the Daily Mail awarded the show two stars, stating it possessed "all the drama of a Wikipedia entry." He noted that while Lott made an effort in the role, she relied heavily on Monroe's signature breathy intonation and coquettish mannerisms, failing to delve deeper into the character.
Nick Curtis of the Standard gave a particularly harsh assessment, titling his review "If I could give it zero stars, I would." He described the play as a "tawdry and irredeemably awful trawl through Marilyn Monroe’s life," and suggested Lott should "give up her day job as a pop star," remarking that her performance seemed limited to "eyelash-batting flirtation and screaming anxiety."
The Times' Clive Davis echoed this sentiment, labeling the play "laughably awful" and questioning how the "comically inept conspiracy theory drama" reached the stage. The Guardian's Arifa Akbar also awarded one star, criticizing the supporting cast as "underwhelming" and the direction as contributing to an "accidental farce" atmosphere.
Fiona Mountford for The Telegraph pointed to director Philip William McKinley as "culpable" for an "almost entirely devoid of energy" production, suggesting it was "time to let Marilyn rest in peace now." Julia Rank for WhatsOnStage gave two stars, acknowledging Lott's effort but noting an overreliance on vocal tics and mannerisms, though her final monologue was handled with "dramatic dignity."
Andrzej Lukowski of Time Out concluded that while the play might appeal to fans of trashy true-crime documentaries, it "is simply not a good drama."
Despite the critical reception, Lott expressed enthusiasm for the role, calling it a "dream come true" and expressing her lifelong admiration for Monroe. This marks Lott's second West End appearance; she previously starred as Holly Golightly in "Breakfast at Tiffany's" in 2016 to positive reviews. The production of "Who Killed Marilyn?" is scheduled to run until October 29.