Born Yesterday - 1940s Glamour

There's something about the 1940s, the romance, elegance and allure. I grew up watching Casablanca and The Big Sleep. Ingrid Bergman, the anti-Hollywood starlet and Lauren Bacall with her sultry looks and voice, sum up the Golden Era for me.

The 1940s have been popping up recently on the screen and stage with Melbourne Theatre Company's delightful Broadway comedy Born Yesterday among them.

Born Yesterday is MTC's 2017 opening number and it's a cracker! Set in a swanky Washington hotel suite, junkyard tycoon Harry Brock has planned to win over the crooked US Senators. However, he fears his girlfriend, Billie, who is a little on the dim side, will spoil everything. Then Paul Verral, a handsome young reporter, steps in. Brock enlists Verral to tutor Billie on literature, history, politics and the law. But will Brock's plan of enlightening Billie backfire? You bet it does!

Christie Whelan Browne steals the show in the role of Billie. She lights up the stage with her presence and glamour. Her comic timing is perfect.

Reminiscent of George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion, Born Yesterday is wonderfully entertaining, has a vibrant set and great costumes, especially those of leading lady, Billie. In a fresh colour palette, Billie's costumes highlight her vivacious and carefree character.

Born Yesterday

by Garson Kanin

14 January-25 February 2017. Southbank Theatre, The Sumner Theatre. Buy tickets here.

MTC's Born Yesterday. Photo credit Jeff Busby

Allied

Joanna Johnston, a British costume designer, created the outfits for Allied, a 2016 film set in the 1940s starring Marion Cotillard and Brad Pitt. The clothes are glamorous and beautiful, especially for Marion's character. The satin floor-grazing dresses, the silk blouses tucked into box pleated skirts are divine.

See below the exquisite 1940s costumes designed by Joanna Johnston with illustrations by Jacqueline Bissett.