The Revolutionists

There’s a lot to love about The Curators’ production of the Lauren Gunderson play, The Revolutionists.

Set in Paris,1793, during the reign of terror in the French revolution, four feisty women face the sociological changes of their era. The characters are based on real women, however their meeting in this play is purely a work of fiction. Published in 2018, the dialogue is infused with modern twists and humour. Comedy is weaponised to defend serious political issues: women’s rights, democracy, freedom of speech, and equality.

Direction by Michael Beh is incredibly creative and ostentatious. There are some wonderful moments of characters quickly exchanging clever banter. Act one in particular has some fantastically witty dialogue. The sumptuously detailed costume designs and set designs also by Beh are like Catherine Martin on an independent theatre budget. You can tell he has a clear vision for the work.

On the downside, audiences should be warned, the choice to use proscenium connected to a traverse stage, while very creative, may leave you with a neck tension headache. The experience is often akin to watching a tennis match, while at other times you have to crane your neck to one side for extended periods to watch the action. The script too is prolix, with musical numbers extending an already lengthy theatrical experience. While everyone puts up a valiant effort, only one of the cast members is a remarkably strong singer, leaving you questioning if the other songs should be cut.

Asabi Goodman is divine during her powerful rendition of Feelin’ Good. She’s also focussed and commanding in her portrayal of the freedom fighter and abolitionist, Marianne Angelle. Amanda McErlean as Queen Marie Antoinette surprisingly chooses to play the role with a posh British accent which she sticks to like glue throughout. As assassin Charlotte Corday, Lauren Roche’s strengths predominantly lie in her physicality. Lisa Hickey throws every ounce of energy and breath control she has into her role as the activist abolitionist playwright Olympe de Gouges. You feel she must have nothing left in the tank after the show.

It’s brilliant timing to be staging this during the current political climate. Centuries after the French revolution we still grapple with extreme greed and wealth at one end of society and horrific poverty and inequality at the other. Fittingly, The Revolutionists run will take in International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month. If you’re after something thought provoking, linguistically generous and visually lavish, this show is for you.

Kitty Goodall

Photographer: Naz Mulla