‘Collective Rage’ anchored in some real-life emotions
PAWTUCKET – Burbage Theatre Company is presenting the Rhode Island premiere of a 2016 play, so to introduce this work, here is the full title: “Collective Rage; A Play in 5 Betties; A Queer and Occasionally Hazardous Exploration; Do you remember when you were in middle school and you read about Shackleton and how he explored the Antarctic? Imagine the Antarctic as a p—y and it’s sort of like that.”
The playwright is Jen Silverman; Burbage patrons may remember last season’s production of her play “Witch.” Both plays share off-beat, absurdist characteristics but are anchored in some real-life emotions.
In “Collective Rage,” five New York women haphazardly come together to put on a play. Their backgrounds are very different, but they’re all named Betty.
Betty #1 (Melissa Penick) is white and privileged but deeply disturbed by the onslaught of negative stories in the news. When she tries to explain her angst to her husband, Richard, he dismissively suggests a massage might make her “feel better.”
“But nothing makes me ‘feel better,’” she seethes, especially Richard.
Betty #2 (Amie Lytle) is a lonely introvert. She says she has no friends, and her marriage is sexless.
Betty #3 (Daria-Lyric Montaquila), on the other hand, is all about sex and the Shackleton-inspired exploration. She dreams of becoming famous, although her aspiration far outstrips her ability.
Betty #4 (Nina Giselle) is a butch lesbian who loves working on her truck.
Betty #5 (Anna Basile) is the “other Betty with a truck,” who describes herself as a “gender-non-conforming, masculine-presenting, female-bodied individual” who uses female pronouns.
After seeing “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” Betty #3 decides the “theatah” is her route to fame and fortune. She comes up with a barely recognizable, wack-a-doodle reinvention of “Pyramus and Thisbe,” the play within Shakespeare’s “Midsummer” comedy, and the other
Betties sign on. The absurdities start piling up, and ul although that’s the source of funny Red-moments, they begin to become repetitive – until those “real-life” emo-tions kick in.
As the Betties play someone else, each figures out something about herself. Just to give you an idea: Introverted Betty #2 is cast as a lion and discovers her “inner lion.” Actor Amie Lytle goes full bore into showing us what that means in a hilarious, uninhibited performance.
Other moments -- heartfelt, revelatory and liberating -- are experienced by different Betties, brought out by Burbage company member and director Allison Crews’ eye for comedy, absurdity and humanity. Penick and Basile make their discoveries feel very authentic; Giselle expresses honest emotion; while Montaquila never lets go of her chutzpah for the “thea-tah.”
Audacious is one word to describe “Collective Rage” and Burbage’s production. Entertaining definitely applies; joyous, too, all wrapped up in some fresh perspectives.
Performances of “Collective Rage” continue through April 21 in Burbage Theatre Company’s Wendy Overly Theater, 59 Blackstone Avenue. For tickets, call (401) 484-0355 or visit burbagetheatre.org.