Lauren Gunderson's "The Taming," produced by ArkansasStaged at the 21c Museum Hotel on Jan. 20, opens with a scene at the Miss America Pageant and includes flashbacks to the 1787 Constitutional Convention in a satirical look at extremism -- on both sides of the aisle. Gunderson thought the 2013 play, roughly based on Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew," was such a perfect choice for theater audiences on the day of the inauguration that she offered theater companies the rights, free of charge, if they produce it then.
"In 2013, I wrote "The Taming"... to unpack the deep frustration of a divided and obstructionist patriarchy," Gunderson has said. "To laugh with the painful truth about extremism on both sides, to toy with our country's history and wrestle with its foundational imperfections, and to make manifest a dream of reason and understanding prevailing in America. That feels more necessary now than three years ago."
FAQ
‘The Taming’
WHEN — 7 p.m. Jan. 20
WHERE — ArkansasStaged at 21c Museum Hotel, 207 NE 2nd St., Bentonville
COST — Suggested donation of $5
INFO — facebook.com/events…
"This inauguration is going to be difficult for many, including those who are champions of women's issues," says the play's director and ArkansasStaged company member Jenny McKnight. "'The Taming' offers those who'd rather not tune in to the inauguration an alternate event to come together as a group, participate in a live theater experience and have a few laughs."
ArkansasStaged artistic director Laura Shatkus also emphasizes the "women empowerment" themes within the play.
"I was interested in creating what I keep thinking of in my head as a 'Wall of Women' to come together to create something funny, joyful and purposeful," she says. "We're donating a portion of the proceeds that night to Planned Parenthood, an organization that provides breast exams, cancer screenings and a variety of other life-saving services to women who may not have any other healthcare options."
The all-female ensemble includes actresses Amanda Bobo, Rachel Burkevich and Emily Geller.
"The play is wickedly funny, farcical, satirical and quite clever and subversive," says McKnight. "We even see an ether-induced 'flashback' of what must have been going down in Philadelphia during the Constitutional Convention of 1787. It's a wild ride with some fierce women taking on the power structure and making a lot of sense."
Shatkus says Gunderson's play is perfect for the theater company's inaugural production of 2017, the ArkansasStaged's first year as the 21c Museum Hotel's resident company.
"The script is brand new," she explains. "We love new. It's not been seen in Arkansas before. Small cast (for our small budget). Kooky story. Highly entertaining. Funny. We love all of those ingredients. And it takes place in a hotel, to boot!"
Shatkus says music will play a prominent role in the production.
"The text of the play calls for a few different instances of well-known patriotic music, and both Jenny and I had the same instinct to include some live musicians in the play to support that," she says. "In addition, I wanted to find a way to get as many women and girls involved in the event as possible. A small and scrappy ensemble of singers and instrumentalists seemed like the most fun way to do that, while simultaneously adding that extra element of theatricality that I like to include for each of our 'readings.'"
A suggested donation of $5 is the entrance fee to the event, and the 21C Museum Hotel is offering room discounts to those patrons who mention "ArkansasStaged" when they make their reservations.
"I hope that will encourage people to hang around afterwards to celebrate the joy we've created at The Hive ... and then stay the night," says Shatkus.
NAN What's Up on 01/13/2017