Andy Warhol’s 15 Minutes Of Fame

Having its first run at Midsumma Festival 2013, Noel Anderson’s biographical play has returned for a brief stint at the Jewish Museum. In its present iteration as a reading, Warhol’s rise to fame is told in parallel with Valerie Solanas’ story, the radical feminist who nearly succeeded in murdering Warhol in his iconic Factory.

Carried mostly by charismatic leads who breathe life into an otherwise awkward script, 15 Minutes Of Fame was largely disappointing. The setting – a side room at the Jewish Museum – is far from ideal and leaves the audience feeling disconnected from what was a stilted performance. Even so, Josh Futcher as the aloof Warhol and Kate Mulqueen as brusque, charismatic Solanas are brilliant and provide for the most captivating scenes.

Ultimately however, 15 Minutes Of Fame doesn’t capture much new – apart from the biographical liberties undertaken – about the overdone Warhol story, and a purposeful script reads unnaturally. A more theatrical setting might extract greater drama from the overarching melodrama of 15 Minutes Of Fame and bolster the show alongside its laudable lead performers.