In my not-so-humble opinion, one mark by which to judge the success of a playwright's work is whether or not it stimulates a theatergoer to think about or research the topics or characters discussed or featured therein. And that's precisely what happened last weekend after I attended a performance of Lauren Gunderson's "The Revolutionists" at Ann Arbor's spunky Theatre Nova.
For despite a few minor quibbles on my part, Gunderson's very creative, yet dark comedy about the French Revolution and its Reign of Terror - which starts with the sound of a guillotine, of all things - intrigued me enough to send me to my computer to learn more about the four women she brings together for an imagined encounter, which led to my uncovering a treasure trove of information a history lover like me will drool over for days.
And what interesting women they were!
In her play, Gunderson imagines what might happen if a controversial French feminist playwright is visited by a civic-minded murderess-to-be, a free black woman activist from what's now known as Haiti, and a well-known and somewhat-ditsy queen at a time when France was in the midst of major, world-changing cultural and political turmoil. All are there for reasons of their own, yet each is requesting the services of the playwright to create for them what could be their exit line from this mortal plane. (I won't spoil it for you, but since three of the characters are based on actual historical figures, quick research will reveal their fates and whether or not the statements were needed.)
The result is a script that is oftentimes quite witty (some of which seemed to go over the heads of the audience on the night I was there), yet cognizant of the perils these brave women faced. The carefully crafted dialogue is crisp, sharp and intelligent throughout, with each character carefully drawn and fully realized. And by play's end we certainly know who these women are, what they believe and how they fit into French society.
And how dangerous it was for a woman to speak out on the issues of the day!
However, I walked away from the performance unsure of and a little puzzled by what Gunderson's goal truly was. Is "The Revolutionists" a piece of artistic naval-gazing in which the playwright ponders the power of the written play and what impact such work may or may not have on society? Or is it a feminist manifesto (or propaganda piece) in which a light is shined on all of the world's ills then and now (from gender inequality to the wealth gap, and from privilege to slavery), yet with no message other than it would be a different world if women were in charge?
Was it a mix of the two? Or better yet: Did I simply miss the point?
What I didn't miss, though, was the performance everyone who has seen the show is raving about. After an astounding solo performance last year in Theatre Nova's production of "Katherine," 2016 Wilde Award nominee Melissa Beckwith returns with another tour de force, playing the historical Marie Antoinette. I've been a fan of Beckwith's work since I first saw her on the The Ringwald stage many years ago (or was it its progenitor, Who Wants Cake, at that point?), and she still has the chops to surprise and impress me. From the moment she first enters to the show's final moments, Beckwith fills the character with the larger-than-life traits one expects of this historical figure, yet with an emotional underpinning that reveals a depth and awareness one may not expect. If there's a performance to beat this season, this is it.
Also featured in the show are K Edminds as Marianne Angelle, Diane Hill as Olympe De Gouges, and Sara Rose as Charlotte Corday.
As fellow critic Jenn McKee stated in her review, "The Revolutionists" is a play that can't help but remind me of the productions staged by the now-defunct and very missed Performance Network, especially when director David Wolber and founding artistic director Carla Milarch were running things. (The only difference is the budget for the set, which I suspect would have been much higher in the good ol' days.) And that's high praise indeed!
THE BOTTOM LINE: I wouldn't be surprised if this weekend's closing performances will be sold out, so if you'd like to catch the show, I recommend you reserve your tickets now! You won't be disappointed!
For complete show details, CLICK HERE!
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