Open Wardrobes

Over the weekend Kelly and I attended Amazons and Their Men, the latest offering from Walking Shadow Theater Company. Walking Shadow is relatively young (this is the start of their 3rd full season) but they have quickly garnered a reputation for doing great work. Most of their shows have been regional premieres, and so it's likely you've never heard of the play, but as they are very thoughtful in their choice of shows you know it's going to be something interesting. Amazons and Their Men was no exception. The show focuses on a movie director in World War II Germany who used to direct propagana films, but now is trying to create something simply beautiful. The four characters are all actors in the film and so switch back and forth between their characters on and off screen. The story of the film, the love between the Amazon queen and Achilles during the Trojan War, parallels the war growing outside the film studio.


The acting was solid overall, an essential in a 4-person cast, but Zoe Benston as the Frau and Christine Weber as the Extra were especially strong. Because the play is, in part, about the filming of a movie, much of the dialogue during those scenes was narration describing what the camera is seeing. I found this technique very effective, and even though I as a member of the theater audience could see everything happening on stage, I had a good visual image of what the "film" looked like as well. My one objection with the script was that I didn't think it delved deep enough into the characters and their reactions to what's going on in the world around them. I felt that this blunted the effectiveness of the parallels between the war being filmed and the war outside.


One thing I have always loved about Walking Shadow is that even though they may not have the biggest of budgets, the technical elements are always very well-done. The set for Amazons was dominated by a single staircase which swept across the entire stage. Lighting was simple, though used to good effect in helping distinguish between the "cameras" were rolling and in-between movie scenes. All very simple, but elegantly done.


So, all in all, I certainly recommend this production. New plays can be very hit or miss, but Walking Shadow is one of the theaters I trust to pick things worth seeing. And you're always guaranteed a professional, top-notch production all around. So go see it, and spring for the season pass while you're at it: $40 for 3 shows, definitely a great deal.