Lee by Cian Griffin is the story of the American abstract expressionist artist Lee Krasner who was married to the artist Jackson Pollock.
The story is based a few years after Pollocks death. Krasner has become established in her right and has now taken over the large studio that was once used by her late husband.
The play is a three-hander with Helen Goldwyn taking on the role of Lee, Tom Andrews as Jackson Pollock’s ghost and Will Bagnall as the grocery shop delivery guy Hank. Who we soon discover has many other job titles and helps Lee around the house and gardens.
Lee and Jackson’s relationship was tainted heavily by his alcoholism which eventually caused his death in a fatal car crash while under the influence of alcohol. Lee by this time had gone to France for an exhibition. Pollock reminds her of this and accuses her of leaving him in the play.
The main storyline takes place through the conversation between Lee and Hank whose Father had known the couple better through his store and delivering their groceries to them over the years and allowing Jackson to settle a large outstanding bill with one of his paintings many years previously.
Director Jason Moore allows Lee to become the central narrator. Highlighting how few female artists are taught in art schools and her battles with Pollock personally and her fight with the art world to take her work seriously without galleries requesting three of Pollock’s paintings to be there to help raise her profile.
The stage fesign by Ian Nicholas is designed in the style of the original studio in Springs, New York. Plain white walls and a row of paintings are currently being worked on. The original house and studio is now the “Pollock-Krasner House and Study Centre, a National Historic Landmark located in the Springs section of East Hampton, New York” link attached below.
My knowledge of these two artists was very limited before I watched Lee and as with many great productions available in the Fringe Theatre venues, I have come away with a greater understanding of the lives of two high-class artists.
For more information about LEE and future productions at Park Theatre please use the link below.
Four Stars.
Theatre, Art and Film Reviews 
Leave a comment