DIRECTOR'S NOTE
Johnny
I cannot seem to recall how Venus in Fur first entered my consciousness. While it premiered not all that long ago Off-Broadway in 2010, it’s one of those plays that just feels like I’ve always known it and been drawn to it. Whether I was going to act in it, produce it, or direct it, I know I had to lend a hand in bringing a production of this story to the stage. When WOBCP opened their season to new directors and shows I was pumped. I wrangled Nick and we hopped out here to Leanderthal Distilling to check out the potential performance space. Such an unusual idea, performing in a distillery. But in chatting up Scott, as fate would have it, this is one of his favorite plays. Fickle finger of fate and we were off and running, and now we’ve arrived at this amazing performance tonight.
Traditionally this piece is performed on a full-size stage with plenty of space for these two folks to spread their wings and often suck up all the air in the room. The challenge and joy here is forcing the two characters to do battle in such an intimate space. There’s nowhere for them to hide, nowhere to back away, they’re always pressed up against a wall. It’s claustrophobic and hot and someone’s always breathing down your neck.
Venus in Fur speaks to me in so many ways. As a theatre fan and performer, I love the witty way we get to experience the play, and the play within the play, and the way it revolves and evolves as it goes on. What artist doesn’t want to take that ride? You always think you know where you are and in what reality you’re in, but are you quite sure? Who is who at any given moment? What are their motivations, what are their goals?
Beyond just the fun theatricality of the piece, it feels very now, very present, very cleverly driving a point without hammering you over the head with it for two hours. It slowly feeds you the point, the ideas, the message before you even have a chance to catch your breath and realize it. The humor, the tension, the confusion, the frustrations, they all distract from what’s unraveling in an… obvious(?) way. What is that point? Well, settle back and find out.
I implore you now, sit back, relax, and open your heart. Let yourself fall into the whirlwind of Vanda and Thomas’s evening as well as Vanda and Kushemski’s journey. Feel the heat, suffer the confusion, gain, and then lose some power, and fulfill your fantasy. “I hand all power over to you in advance, now and forever. Unconditionally.”
Nick
What Johnny said : )
Special Thanks
Our production would like to thank Way Off Broadway and especially Bethany Watkins for the opportunity and support, Scott and Leanderthal Distillery for letting us play in their sandbox and being so supportive and awesome, Sam Bass Theatre for all their support, Stephanie Smith and ZaCH North for letting us play around and learn this play, Cindy Marmon for having the fastest hands west of the Mississippi, and Andy for being so flexible with scheduling and her patience and craft in educating all of us to becoming better artists and humans.
A very special thanks to Claire and Marina from SAFE Expect Respect who helped us make sure we were headed in a great, respectful, and open direction right from the beginning. Please take a look at the fabulous things they are helping our community and world do.
https://www.safeaustin.org/our-services/prevention-and-education/expect-respect/
