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The Rape of Lucrece

Maria Marten or the Murder at the Red Barn by Philaelphia Artist Collective

The Philadelphia Artist Collective performed at The Louis  Bluver Theater at the Drake June 2018. The mystery was reversed to emphasize the comedic jounalist melodrama. The epic tragidy of Maria Marten was drawn out by the public, and the trial was performed throughout the years as an obsessive scrutiny on the trial rather than justice. It was a performance that fed off the energy of the court and the public spectacle. Philadelphia Artist Collective shined a light on the character, and pensively on the circus of criminology. The infamous WIlliam Corder was played by Dan Hodges one night and Damon Bonetti interchangeably. The extent of my sketches of the costume era of Polestead, England 1827 was especially adaptable to cartooning. After seeing/ drawing the play a second time through, I found the two villians to revolve around the epitome of evil. While, Victoria Aaliyah as Maria Marten was angelic and perishes into a lofty dream about beauty  lost in the world. The spirit of her soul suspends the drama further into the disbelief of human behavior.

Human Rites by InterAct Theatre

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Human Rites directed by Hariet Power, and written by Seth Rozin explored the cultural investigation of anthropological lenses in the academic world. Alan, played by Joe Guzman, and Michaela, played by Kimberly S. Fairbanks, illustrated the moral debate between two cultures. That is, the social sciences and academic integrity that goes with it in research in the field of ritual ceremonies, and humanized approach to learning other cultures for a universal philosphy about human beings and our beliefs.

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The concept of the play triggered critical debate on the recent trails in Michigan that will be the first U.S trial that rules on the cultural and religious procedure of female circumcision.  In the play, Lynnette Freeman,  addresses her expereince, and the secrecy of her initiation and her woman hood/ connection with this ritual tradition. The western world was depicted on one hand as egocentrical, and the academic world was portrayed as unresourcefull for the humanities.

How To Use A Knife by InterAct Theatre

How To Use a Knife By Will Snyder performed by InterAct Theatre Company was a full set of a kitchen that switched mood with the disclosure of information regardign the background of one of the employees of the restuarant. The owner, played by Jared McLenigan, mimiced the arrogance of a such political heirarchies that were at the heart of the conflict.  The realism that characterized the hard working immigrant that works without complaints, and at the same time the victimized 'other' uncovered a brutal world. The dishwasher of the resaraunt, played by  Lindsey Smiling, unveils Ugwanda mass murder, and the force and retaliation involved with civil war, and higher powers abused.

HIR by Taylor Mac presented by Simpatico Theater

Taylor Mac creates performances that test our boundaries. HIR was a colorful set, and the characters seemed fit to our assumption of a persons' unstable manner. The unhealthful living space, and the unconventional life choices  in htis family structure were designed to untangle the presumptions of gender and sexual orientations we know unquestionably. 

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Arnold was a stroke victim that lost his rage and male chauvinistic personality. John Morrison's Arnold was a cute but unfunctioning person dressed in a pink dress, make up, and wig.

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Maxine, played by Epchez, lives with his mother and mentally handicaped father that was dressed up like a doll by his mother, Paige, played by, Marcia Saunders.

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Issac, played by Kevin Meehan, returns from the war in Afghanistan and finds his father in a dress, wearing make up, and wig to be a cruel treatment after his stroke. The gender reassignment transition of Maxine and the way Paige deals with once being beaten by her violent maschauvinist husband tells a different kind of "all in the family" scenario. Taylor Mac cleverly mirrors how the world prescribes to unnatural understandings of science and psychology.

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