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| Photo Credit: David Kinder |
The Avenging Angels
This very dark comedy is written by Maureen Angelos, Babs
Davy, Dominique Dibbell, Peg Healey and Lisa Kron (The Five Lesbian Brothers)
and is directed by Dawn Monique Williams.
It is playing at the Artists Rep’s space, 1515 SW Morrison St., through July
1st. For more information, go
to their site at www.profiletheatre.org
or call 503-242-0080.
It is amazing to think that this was written about 25 years
before the current Me, Too, movement but it does give you an idea of how far
back (and much further) the abuse and disrespect and inequality of women has
been going on. This genre of expression
could be ranked with the darkly comic horror films of the 90’s era, such as
Motel Hell, The Stepford Wives and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. And, as demented as you think they are in
this story, you root for them all the same (I did). Go figure….
As the tale goes, there is this lumber camp in Big Bone, OR,
where the secretarial staff is totally populated by women. And the head honcho of them is Susan (Andrea
White), a martinet-type of leader on the outside, who runs a tight ship, but
does have her odd quirks that you’ll get to know after she cozy’s up to you. Ands she has her followers among the
rabble.
Her minions consist of the ditzy, Ashley (Kelly Godell), who
has the record among the pool of the most “boyfriends,” and is the current
secretary of the month, for several weeks running (and she has her prize, a
cashmere sweater, to prove it). Then
there is Peaches (Jen Rowe), the effusive, boisterous and over-weight (a no-no,
according to club rules) of the pack.
And Dawn (Jamie M. Rea), the outspoken, avowed lesbians of the mob, who
takes no prisoners.
Into this motley crew appears the “new-kid-on-the-block,”
Patty (Claire Rigsby), who is fresh out of school, naïve, and more than a
little susceptible to any outrageous influences, in which there are aplenty in
this outfit. Of course, she must
immediately be taken under their wings (or, in this case, maybe talons) and
educated as to what’s important in this Life-style, such as to garner a
lumberman’s jacket, to control your weight through a rigid diet, to abstain
from sex, obey the rules of the club and have an accident-free
environment…well, not so much, perhaps, in this category.
How this all comes together, I cannot tell you without
giving away secrets, but it’s a dozy, trust me.
And, keep in mind, this is definitely not for everyone. If you enjoyed the films mentions early in
this review, then this may be your “type of shake.” If not, well, consider this a warning. Williams has garnered a top-notch group of
ladies for this whirlwind experience (I can only imagine the rehearsals) and
she has kept it moving, with rapid set changes and explosive performances.
This cast is exceptional in the portraying of the
complexities of these characters and keeping them within the bounds of
believability, just enough so you are sucked into their world, too. Kudos to all, as these are some of the
strongest performances I’ve seen onstage!
I recommend this play but beware that it involves some very
adult and explicit material. If you do
choose to see it, please tell them Dennis sent you.
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