History Theatre / McQueen

'''[=McQueen=]: or Lee and Beauty''' (sometimes stylised as "[=McQUEEN=]") is a [[TheatricalProductions play]] (with [[TheMusical musical]] elements) originally produced on UsefulNotes/{{The West End}} in 2015. It is a {{Surrealis|m}}t DarkFantasy based on a story that also influenced one of the titular Alexander [=McQueen=]'s fashion shows, and features the late fashion designer on a whirlwind ambiguous journey from the West to East End of London, accompanied by a mysterious girl.

* ItsPronouncedTropay: Dahlia introduces herself as "dar-lee-a", though her name is spelled like the flower (which Lee comments on) dahlia - "day-lee-a".

* DownTheRabbitHole: The journey taken by Lee and Dahlia, both fitting the trope and being explicitly describes as the exact name by Lee.

'''[=McQueen=]: or Lee and Beauty''' (sometimes stylised as "[=McQUEEN=]") is a [[TheatricalProductions play]] (with [[TheMusical musical]] elements) originally produced on TheWestEnd in 2015. It is a {{Surrealis|m}}t DarkFantasy based on a story that also influenced one of the titular Alexander [=McQueen=]'s fashion shows, and features the late fashion designer on a whirlwind ambiguous journey from the West to East End of London, accompanied by a mysterious girl.

After this they take [[UsefulNotes/TheLondonUnderground the subway]] (filled with the other characters of the play and all the living mannequins) to various locations: Arabella interviewing, where Dahlia becomes increasing comfortable with him and helps him answer, giving that he's also conducting an interview of Kate Moss, asking her the questions via internet. This is one of the funniest scenes of the play, which does feature some remarkably comic elements given the entire story, subject matter, context, and everything else about it. The pair visit a church, where Dahlia [[spoiler:overdoses on pseudoephedrine and vodka in the bathroom]], and Lee imagines a conversation with his old friend Isabella Blow - a long scene not for the sensitive about her means and motivations for suicide, and Lee's own struggle with mental health. They are in the church not so Dahlia can take a spiritual dump, but so Lee can take some stylised photographs of her in the dress. With each take, the frames crack and the scars on Dahlia's arms become visible. Lee then helps Dahlia recover, gives her some water, and asks her to at least see the night end with him.

* AffectionateNickname: Lee calling Dahlia "flower" (because a dahlia is a kind of flower, amongst other interpretations) and Dahlia calling Lee "mooncalf [=McQueen=] (motherfucker)".

** LyricalColdOpen: The play really starts with Dahlia's unexpected singing from off-stage (but don't discount what goes before it).

* DreamSequence[=/=]ImagineSpot: Lee interacting with Isabella Blow in her sitting room is one.
* [[spoiler: DressingToDie: Dahlia came for a dress to die in. The play provides the trope's page quote.]]

'''[=McQueen=]: or Lee and Beauty''' (sometimes stylised as "[=McQUEEN=]") is a [[TheatricalProductions play]] (with [[TheMusical musical]] elements) originally produced on TheWestEnd in 2015. It is a DarkFantasy based on a story that also influenced one of the titular Alexander [=McQueen=]'s fashion shows, and features the late fashion designer on a whirlwind ambiguous journey from the West to East End of London, accompanied by a mysterious girl.

He takes her to his mother's house out on the East End, where he shows her his vision: a beautiful golden feather coat that he's been working on but doesn't know what show to put it in yet (he never does) and leaves it at her house so she can look at its beauty. He gives it to Dahlia and then they venture to some Central London rooftops to watch the sunrise, utilising the moving floor to elevate them. Here he says that she can jump, and he'll go with her; looking down Dahlia assesses that from the height they would both be sure to die. A golden kestrel interrupts them, a projection, and they revel in this beauty and this experience. Lee used to be a birder and had never seen such a rare bird before, always loving them and wishing to watch one. They get close before the bird is called away.

-->--'''Lee Alexander [=McQueen=]''', ''The Girl Who Lived in the Tree''

* LyricalColdOpen: The play really starts with Dahlia's unexpected singing from off-stage (but don't discount what goes before it).

After this they take the subway (filled with the other characters of the play and all the living mannequins) to various locations: Arabella interviewing, where Dahlia becomes increasing comfortable with him and helps him answer, giving that he's also conducting an interview of Kate Moss, asking her the questions via internet. This is one of the funniest scenes of the play, which does feature some remarkably comic elements given the entire story, subject matter, context, and everything else about it. The pair visit a church, where Dahlia [[spoiler:overdoses on pseudoephedrine and vodka in the bathroom]], and Lee imagines a conversation with his old friend Isabella Blow - a long scene not for the sensitive about her means and motivations for suicide, and Lee's own struggle with mental health. They are in the church not so Dahlia can take a spiritual dump, but so Lee can take some stylised photographs of her in the dress. With each take, the frames crack and the scars on Dahlia's arms become visible. Lee then helps Dahlia recover, gives her some water, and asks her to at least see the night end with him.

After this they take the subway (filled with the other characters of the play and all the living mannequins) to various locations: Arabella interviewing, where Dahlia becomes increasing comfortable with him and helps him answer, giving that he's also conducting an interview of Kate Moss, asking her the questions via internet. This is one of the funniest scenes of the play, which does feature some remarkably comic elements given the entire story, subject matter, context, and everything else about it. The pair visit a church, where Dahlia [[spoiler:overdoses on pseudo ephedrine and vodka in the bathroom]], and Lee imagines a conversation with his old friend Isabella Blow - a long scene not for the sensitive about her means and motivations for suicide, and Lee's own struggle with mental health. They are in the church not so Dahlia can take a spiritual dump, but so Lee can take some stylised photographs of her in the dress. With each take, the frames crack and the scars on Dahlia's arms become visible. Lee then helps Dahlia recover, gives her some water, and asks her to at least see the night end with him.

This is when Mr Hitchcock (Lee's old boss) finds them. He then sets about helping construct what becomes an awesome dress, especially to say that they are constructing it on stage every night - cutting the bra that the actress wears, included. Dahlia then excuses herself stage left to look in a mirror whilst Lee and Mr. H have something of a heart-to-heart [[spoilers:probably to adjust the dress and returning with a different pair of shoes and painted scars for the most observant of the audience to notice early]].

After this they take the subway (filled with the other characters of the play and all the living mannequins) to various locations: Arabella interviewing, where Dahlia becomes increasing comfortable with him and helps him answer, giving that he's also conducting an interview of Kate Moss, asking her the questions via internet. This is one of the funniest scenes of the play, which does feature some remarkably comic elements given the entire story, subject matter, context, and everything else about it. The pair visit a church, where Dahlia [[spoiler:overdoses on pseudoephedrine in the bathroom]], and Lee imagines a conversation with his old friend Isabella Blow - a long scene not for the sensitive about her means and motivations for suicide, and Lee's own struggle with mental health. They are in the church not so Dahlia can take a spiritual dump, but so Lee can take some stylised photographs of her in the dress. With each take, the frames crack and the scars on Dahlia's arms become visible. Lee then helps Dahlia recover, gives her some water, and asks her to at least see the night end with him.

It was written to accompany the [=McQueen=] ''Savage Beauty'' exhibition at the V&A Museum in London through early 2015 (itself an anniversary celebration of the designer) by playwright James Phillips for the St. James Theatre (London). Due to its success the run was extended through June before continuing (with edits) at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, though this run was cut short.

'''[=McQueen=]''' (sometimes stylised as "[=McQUEEN=]") is a [[TheatricalProductions play]] (with [[TheMusical musical]] elements) originally produced on TheWestEnd in 2015. It is a DarkFantasy based on a story that also influenced one of the titular Alexander [=McQueen=]'s fashion shows, and features the late fashion designer on a whirlwind ambiguous journey from the West to East End of London, accompanied by a mysterious girl.

After this they take the subway (filled with the other characters of the play and all the living mannequins) to various locations: Arabella interviewing, where Dahlia becomes increasing comfortable with him and helps him answer, giving that he's also conducting an interview of Creator/KateMoss, asking her the questions via internet. This is one of the funniest scenes of the play, which does feature some remarkably comic elements given the entire story, subject matter, context, and everything else about it. The pair visit a church, where Dahlia [[spoiler:overdoses on pseudoephedrine in the bathroom]], and Lee imagines a conversation with his old friend Isabella Blow - a long scene not for the sensitive about her means and motivations for suicide, and Lee's own struggle with mental health. They are in the church not so Dahlia can take a spiritual dump, but so Lee can take some stylised photographs of her in the dress. With each take, the frames crack and the scars on Dahlia's arms become visible. Lee then helps Dahlia recover, gives her some water, and asks her to at least see the night end with him.

* BotchedSuicide: The details of Isabella's attempts, [[spoiler: Dahlia's two-or-three-at-least attempts in the actual play - Lee wants to make sure she survives the night. Also, it's implied that Dahlia interrupts this when she breaks in.]]

* MusicalIntroduction: Dahlia singing "She's Always A Woman" from offstage and then throughout the first scene. After the pre-introduction of Lee, alone.