Director Shelli Place took some time to discuss her vision for The Revolutionists <\/em>for our readers and explain what initially drew her to this play. High on that list was the relevance of the content to a modern audience. \u201c[The events of in this play] are not too far from where we are now,\u201d explains Place, “The government was not respected\u2026the poverty, the racism, the sexism\u2026there are so many things that cross over to today.\u201d Conceptually, The Revolutionists <\/em>deals with heavy subject matter, but it is tonally light \u2013 a witty comedy that requires its audience\u2019s attention and rewards that attention with rapid-fire comedic payoffs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt is a meta play, which is a play about a playwright writing a play,\u201d says Place. \u201cBecause of that it has an abstract, dream-like quality. The playwright calls it a fugue. Different melodies in the tone of the characters and different themes going through it but they all intertwine.\u201d The play offers the viewer space to reflect on how vastly different people lived out their values at a time when their worlds were collectively intolerable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The play fleshes out Marie Antoinette, whom Place points out we have been \u201ctrained to make fun of\u201d and gives her \u201csome incredible moments of clarity\u201d. It introduces us to Marianne Angelle, who spotlights the concurrent Haitian Revolution. She is \u201cthe only character in the show who is not based on one person but is rather an amalgamation of free men and women in Haiti who were trying to abolish slavery in Haiti and around the world.\u201d Every character brings light to a different facet of a revolution with which most of us think we are familiar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Of course, above all else, The Revolutionists <\/em>is a comedy. \u201cComedy itself is about contrasts. With The Revolutionists,<\/em> it is the pathos of the Reign of Terror and the pace of witty dialogue,\u201d explains Place. This value of contrasting elements reverberates through every element of the show. Sound designer Anita Kelling created an audio experience that uses the instruments of yesteryear to play the Top 40 of today and costume designer Sonya Berloviz put \u201ca period look into leather and made it contemporary.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is also worth noting that The Revolutionists <\/em>is put on by the still relatively new production company PRIME Productions. Place founded PRIME Productions alongside Alison Edwards and Elena Giannetti in 2016 when the trio realized how few roles were available in the Twin Cities for women fifty or older. \u201cOur tagline is \u2018Celebrating women in their second act\u2019\u201d says Place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n PRIME prioritizes telling stories about mature women, while also seeking out productions with meaningful themes and intersectional characters. \u201cIt is not just about casting \u2013 it is about investing time and effort and money into various cultures,\u201d Place says, \u201cOur first play was about the Holocaust, the second was about climate change, the third was about artificial intelligence and dementia. The fourth one was a great comedy with two terrific roles for women.\u201d The Revolutionists <\/em>continues the trend of strong storytelling with women at its fulcrum. \u201c[This play] was written for strong women and about strong women \u2013 for strong actresses.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Like many plays, The Revolutionists <\/em>has seen its fair share of delays before finally finding its way to the stage. \u201cIt was delayed a year and then another year,\u201d says Place, \u201cI am relieved that the audience is finally going to get to see it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI just want people to know that every theater \u2013 not only us \u2013 is waiting for an audience to come back,\u201d says Place. If you have been waiting for the right play to bring you back to theaters The Revolutionists <\/em>might just be it. The show runs from March 31st<\/sup> \u2013 April 16th<\/sup> on the Proscenium Stage at Park Square Theatre. Tickets are on sale now. Check out the website listed below for all performance dates, along with special nights like those where masks are required (April 6th<\/sup> and April 15th<\/sup>), the ASL-interpreted show (April 2), and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThere is nothing like live theater,\u201d says Place, \u201cWhatever happens on that stage that night is never going to happen again.\u201d Not to stoke the FOMO in all of you, but she is right. Do not miss your chance to see this darkly hilarious play.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/lavendermagazine-com.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Photo-courtesy-of-Park-Square-Theatre2-1164x1080.jpg\")
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