Based on her letters and stories, 'The Last Flapper' written by William Luce is a definitive portrait of the glamorous, fun loving and tragic Zelda Fitzgerald.
Set in an insane asylum on the last day of Zelda's life, she arrives for a therapy session only to discover that her psychiatrist has canceled her appointment. Alone in his office, Zelda plays both doctor and patient as she relives her whirlwind past. Zelda tells of her innocent rebellion as a southern belle, of her destructive marriage and of her mental disintegration.
Famously known for being the wife and muse of author F. Scott Fitzgerald and being the influence of many of his books including 'The Great Gatsby', Zelda – a writer and artist in her own right – ached to find her own identity in the shadow of her celebrated husband. 'The Last Flapper' is an intimate evening with a legend and an insight into one of literary history's most tempestuous affairs.A one-women play, Rebecca Elise Lamb will bring a New York speakeasy feel to the Brisbane Fringe Festival with 'The Last Flapper'. And if you'd like tips on how to become a flapper, the lass has you covered on all fronts:
Research flappers
According to Google a 'flapper' is a fashionable young woman intent on enjoying herself and flouting conventional standards of behaviour (I think I'm going to enjoy becoming a flapper). Hire out some flapper inspired films to see what flappers look like and how they behave – or in some cases don't behave. Favourite flapper films include 'The Great Gatsby' (Robert Redford version and Baz Luhrmann version), 'Chicago', 'The Artist', 'The Cotton Club' and 'Midnight In Paris' (Scott and Zelda even make a cameo!). There are also plenty of books for you to read up on flappers too. Naturally anything by F. Scott Fitzgerald and 'Z: A Novel Of Zelda Fitzgerald' are a good place to start.
Dress like a flapper
Flappers were trend-setters and always looked immaculate in public, even if they were just popping down to the grocery store or walking the dog. They stopped wearing their corsets, they lowered their waist lines and shortened their skirts. They bobbed their hair and covered their faces in 'powder and paint' (makeup). And they loved a bit of sparkle, after all diamonds are a girls best friend.{youtube}8Z8PVETVPwc{/youtube}
Talk like a flapper
If you're going to be a flapper you need to know the lingo. They practically invented their own language and had way more success than Gretchen Wieners with making words happen. Here are some basics…Good: Bee's knee's, cat's meow, cat's pyjamas, berries, swell, nifty, spiffy, swanky
Bad: Applesauce, baloney, lousy, flat tire (a boring person), horse feathers
Mouth: Kisser
Kiss: Now or later?: Cash or check?
No kissing: Bank's closed
Don't do anything stupid: Don't take any wooden nickels
That's funny: You slay me
Act like a flapper
Now that you're dressing and talking like a flapper, it's time to act like one. Flapper's were very 'in the know' and enjoyed intelligent conversations, they read the newspaper and did crosswords to expand their knowledge and vocabulary. Flappers were feminists and weren't afraid to speak their minds. They listened to jazz music – so download some Frank Sinatra and Cole Porter – and when they weren't out on the town they were at home relaxing over a game of scrabble or solitaire. They were also artists – so take up writing, painting, dancing or pottery.{youtube}o8wtDY6TZgc{/youtube}
Hang out where flappers hang out
Now that the flapper transformation is complete it's time to celebrate and why not do so with a glass of champagne at a speakeasy. And don't forget to show off your dance moves – a little party never killed nobody. Our personal favourite whiskey bar in Brisbane is The Walrus Club, it's like stepping into the roaring, 1920's New York, prohibition era and they also do a mean old fashioned. Flappers also loved attending the theatre; whether it was plays, musicals, operas, concerts or the ballet, flappers loved them all. In fact why not check out 'The Last Flapper' at Brisbane Fringe Festival, the play is about the original flapper herself, Zelda Fitzgerald.'The Last Flapper' will perform Reload Espresso Bar, 21 August.
