She was once one of the most famous women on the planet, and almost thirty years since her death, is still a household name, in America at least. Lucille Ball was adored almost universally, she was the first woman to run a television studio, but it was as a television star she was best known. I Loved Lucy by Lee Tannen, is the true story of his very close relationship with the star in the final decade of her life.
After divorcing her beloved Desi Arnaz, Lucy marries Gary Morton a comedian fifteen years her junior. Tannen is a distant relative and at ten years old is star struck when he meets the icon. Jump ahead and the now 34 year old meets the star again, she’s 73 now and an unlikely friendship develops over numerous games of backgammon.
Tannen essentially becomes her babysitter, as Gary, who is not portrayed particularly favorably, is rarely around. Tannen describes the relationship as eventually becoming like Sunset Boulevard, and expecting to find himself at the bottom of the pool. Whichever way you spin it though, it’s clear Tannen needs Lucy as much as she needs him.
It’s a fascinating insight to the life of a megastar, with little snippets of gossip dropped in;  Such as Clark Gable’s shortcomings in the manhood department or Lucy becoming annoyed at having to wait at the opening night of The Rink because Michael Jackson was running late.  But of course, it’s told entirely from one perspective so we can never be really sure things happened the way they’ve been remembered here. If they did, then Tannen played a much larger role in her life than we’ve been led to believe.
Two actors perform the entire play, Sandra Dickinson is delightful as the ailing Lucy, yet still feisty and more than able to hold her own with that gravel voice perfected. Matthew Scott makes a stunning West End debut as Lee Tannen, he brings out the characters desire to live a celebrity lifestyle vicariously through Lucy.
Directed by, Anthony Biggs I Loved Lucy is a well written piece of comedy, it’s scathingly funny and employs some clever techniques to get the story across. If reality TV had been a thing in Lucy’s day then I Loved Lucy would be their version of Keeping Up With The Kardashians, it goes behind the glitz and glamour of the Hollywood lifestyle to reveal a woman who loved frankfurters and spam.
I Loved Lucy is a funny and touching play that will strike a chord with anyone who remembers Lucille Ball, and is a good introduction for those who don’t, but overall it feels a little self-indulgent and focusses more on the playwright than the titular character.
