Theater Review: ‘I’m Looking for Helen Twelvetrees’

Actor/writer David Greenspan shines a light on a forgotten figure in his new show “I’m Looking For Helen Twelvetress,” about a New York actress who came to Hollywood in the early days of talking pictures.
Theater Review: ‘I’m Looking for Helen Twelvetrees’
Wanna-be actor Clark Twelvetrees (Keith Nobbs) and his wife Helen Twelvetrees (Brooke Bloom) have a tumultuous relationship, as envisioned by writer/actor David Greenspan in his new play. Hunter Canning
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NEW YORK—Actor/writer David Greenspan shines a light on a forgotten figure in his new show, “I’m Looking For Helen Twelvetress,” about a New York actress who came to Hollywood in the early days of talking pictures.

Greenspan anchors his story in the summer of 1951 in the town of Sea Cliff, Long Island, where 16-year-old Mike (Greenspan) has traveled across the country to see Twelvetrees (Brooke Bloom) in “A Streetcar Named Desire.” The actress had turned to summer stock when her film career faded.

The story then flashes back to 1928, when a young Helen, having gotten her first taste of fame by being photographed by The Saturday Evening Post, is full of optimism about the future. Her optimism does not last as her life is soon filled with personal struggles and pain.

(L–R) Keith Nobbs in the background, Brooke Bloom, and David Greenspan appear in Greenspan's new work, "I'm Looking for Helen Twelvetrees." (Hunter Canning)
(L–R) Keith Nobbs in the background, Brooke Bloom, and David Greenspan appear in Greenspan's new work, "I'm Looking for Helen Twelvetrees." Hunter Canning
Judd Hollander
Judd Hollander
Author
Judd Hollander is a reviewer for stagebuzz.com and a member of the Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle.
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