Swimming Against the Current

Bull in a China Shop – About Face Theatre

 

While traveling in China, Mary Woolley writes to her lover, Jeannette Marks, about being captivated by observing a beautiful swan swimming upstream in the river. She philosophically muses that, while the swan looks elegant and filled with poise, seeming to be effortlessly floating on the water, beneath the surface the bird is churning relentlessly to swim against the strong current. This experience is eloquently described near the final moments of Bryna Turner’s captivating work. It’s a lovely, tranquil moment in a fast-paced play, but also the perfect metaphor for the entire story. 

While Turner’s play opened to high acclaim a year ago at the Claire Tow Theater at Lincoln Center, About Face Theatre’s fine production marks its Midwestern premiere. Inspired by the collected letters between Woolley and Marks, both educators, real-life lovers and early American feminists, the playwright wipes the dust away from all those old, sepia-toned photographs of Suffragettes and Victorian revolutionaries. Peppering the dialogue with an abundance of four-letter expletives, and painting her characters in broader, contemporary strokes, if not for Mieka Van Der Ploeg’s historically accurate period costumes the audience might think this is a 21st century story. But these characters are actual, strong women who were out to topple the constrictive social, legal and political barriers of their time. Turner pays tribute to both the past and the present equally.

Skillfully directed by Keira Fromm, this more intimate production features the incomparable Kelli Simpkins, as Woolley, whose considerable talent has been enjoyed on stages all over Chicago and around the country. She plays the self-described “Bull in a China Shop” as a woman who set out to become, and achieved her goal, as the groundbreaking Madame President of Mount Holyoke College, in Western Massachusetts. Full of spunk and gumption, Simpkins, as Woolley, leads by example, molding and encouraging young women’s development through the first third of the 20th century. The actress is tough and unflinching, but never abrasive, in her portrayal of an historical character who’s a freethinking leader and motivator first, and a lesbian lover second. She responds to criticism of her technique with, “You want a training ground for good, pious wives. But I give you fully evolved human beings.”

Simpkins is matched moment-to-moment by the equally iron-willed Emjoy Gavino as Marks. Dedicated to her own goals, and hellbent determined to achieve them, Ms. Gavino’s Jeannette Marks is a forceful woman, focused on her own creative agenda and unwilling to compromise in any way. Her love for Woolley is intense, but her patience only goes so far. Having met and fallen in love with Woolley when they were professor and student, Marks finds she’s titillated by the adoration of one of her young students. Pearl, played with playful fondness and adolescent excitement by Aurora Adachi-Winter, is, perhaps, a younger version of Marks. She’s the sonnet-writing head of a secret student fan club who idolize the not-so-hidden relationship between Marks and Woolley. The scenes between these two actresses are often funny, yet bitter-sweet and poignant. 

One of Chicago’s finest actresses, Mary Beth Fisher, is delightfully dry as Welsh, the school’s Dean. In her conversations with Mary Woolley, Ms. Fisher conveys all the respect, courtesy, yet humorously contained confusion, provoked by this revolutionary, new Madame President. The actress’ halting speech, her slightly strained voice and the way she subtly glances away at times all betray this matron’s surprise and shock at the changes Woolley continues to advocate for Mount Holyoke. As Marks’ devoted friend and helpful roommate, Adithi Chandrashekar is delightful as the kind, affable Felicity. A master of deadpan and subtle comedy, this actress provides many of the 80-minute play’s funnier moments.

Staged upon William Boles’ beautiful unit scenic design that easily provides multiple locales, and lit in romantic shades of color and shadow by Claire Chrzan, this production is lush and brimming with the perfect atmosphere. Completing the sensory effect is Eric Backus’ sound design and original music, all of which adds so much to Keira Fromm’s production. Not only a perfect kickoff to Gay Pride Month, this is an entertaining, educational and motivational play that brings humanity and realism to two of the real-life pioneers who helped bring about change and equal rights for women.

Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas

                     

Presented May 24-June 30 by About Face Theatre at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago.

Tickets are available at the box office, by calling 773-975-8150 or by going to www.aboutfacetheatre.com.

Additional information about this and other area productions can be found by visiting www.theatreinchicago.com.