Among the many plays Lydia Diamond has written “Voyeurs de
Venus” (2006), “The Bluest Eye” (2007) and “Stick Fly” (2008), Moxie Theatre in Rolando
produced the first two and the now defunct Mo’Olelo the third.
I’ve always been impressed with Diamond’s plays; the
subject matter, and characterizations and the overall messages she shares. "Venus” is the most jolting and jarring.
Moxie Theatre is at it again with founding mother Decilia
Turner Sonnenberg at the helm directing as she did in 2013 “Bluest Eye” that
takes place in Ohio. “Venus” takes us on a different journey, a journey that
begins in South Africa 1800’s and ends in current day Chicago 2002.
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| Joy Yvonne Jones |
For a brief history (some might dispute all the facts) but
one that is new to yours truly, the Venus in Diamond’s play is an indigenous
woman from southwest Africa whose name was Saartjie Baartman (Joy Yvonne Jones).
She was a dancer, a mother and a drummer who grew up serving French and Dutch
colonists. She spoke English, Dutch and some French.
At some point in her life one of her adoptive ‘parents’ sent
her to Europe where she became somewhat of an oddity after she was sent into
the trafficking trade and was dubbed “Hottentot Venus” a slur that followed her
throughout.
In the nineteenth century racial ‘science’ and popular culture
considered her unusually large backside as exotic and hypersexual.
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| Cashae Monya |
Call it exploitive; call it racial profiling, history or just
plain voyeurism for the sexually repressed but when she arrived in England she was
put on display (having been shipped in a shipping crate) by one Alexander
Dunlop (Fred Harlow) and stood naked in a cage while European women (and men)
gawked at her.
These images continued even after her death where she found
no peace as her genitalia were dissected (by Georges Cuvier scientist/professor at the Museum of Natural History in Paris) and a wax mold
of her large buttocks remained on display in a French museum until recently.
Here the play gets dark and somewhat difficult to watch as
the bloody mess is on display for everyone’s imagination to conjure up whatever
pictures pop into mind. Call it exploitive; call it racial profiling, history
or just plain sensationalism.
The story doesn’t end here.
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| Cashae Monya and Justin Lang |
Into the mix, Diamond introduces another African woman, Sara
Washington (Cashae Monya) a contemporary scholar, a writer and an anthropologist
writing a book about Baartman’s story. She struggles with the history, as the
past is juxtaposed with her now findings and the graphic nature of that
history, one that borders on her own exploitation of a woman she, Sara, felt
was exploited.
The play toggles back and forth in time and place, past and
present where we meet both women, one dancing a tribal dance in her native
Africa, the other in bed with her husband James (Justin Lang) in Chicago.
She’s promoting a book deal he’s a patient and loving husband
and sociologist, but the marriage is in trouble. Sara’s meetings with book
publishers Carl Richards (Max Macke) and African American James Bradford,
(Cortez Johnson) become more difficult to sell.
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| Cortez Johnson and Cashae Monya |
Because of her many doubts about the very same concerns she
had around the victimization of her subject, she too is challenged about
whether to go ahead with the deal or not. Her meetings with Bradford test her
vulnerability their mutual attraction and finally her need to succeed as in
spite of her conflicts.
With her steady and expert direction, Sonnenberg and her
excellent cast take us through tribal dances (Michael Mizerani) dressed in
Shelly Williams costumes, time and space sequences (Justin Humphries three
different locations emphasized by Nate Parde’s lighting design) and the trials and
tribulations of Sara’s dilemmas giving us a bird’s eye view into how
complicated both of these women were and are.
As usual Cashae Monya is spot on target as the go getter
author /anthropologist bustling with ideas, trying to keep her marriage fresh
and wavering between exploiting her book subject and her need for recognition. Ms.
Monya’s energy and complete immersion in her role as Sara Washington is without
flaw.
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| Joy Yvonne Jones and Cortez Johnson |
Newcomer to yours truly, Joy Yvonne Jones approached the role
of Saartjie Baarrtman with dignity and conviction. As the abused young woman,
her steadfast comportment, nonverbal at times, says volumes. In contrast Cortez
Jonson’s Booker, the one who has to give the OK to Washington’s book deal is
confident, somewhat arrogant and most of all, seductive and provocative.
Justin Lang is both loving and accepting husband to Sara and
the acclaimed Dr. Cuvier who considered Saartjie to be the missing link between humans
and animals. He wins a gold star for the quickest costume changes.
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| Nancy Ross and Justin Lang |
Nancy Ross is fine as Millicent Duncent, Cuvier’s assistant
and the two dancers Jocelynn Johnston and Ashley Strwart round out a most
talented cast enabling Diamond’s work to have been given a serious outing.
But for Diamond and those of us wrestling with the
question: “By doing this play, is she
herself exploiting Saartjie Baartman?”
Diamond thinks not adding: “But I understand if someone felt
differently, I would accept that.” You be the judge.
See you at the theatre.
Dates: Through Sept. 9th.
Organization: Moxie Theatre
Phone: 858-598-7620
Production Type: Drama
Where: 6663 El Cajon Blvd. San Diego, CA92115
Ticket Prices: $28.00-$38.00
Web: moxietheatre.com
Photo: Moxie Theatre
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