Private conversation in Public places (Chamber Theater)

The Stronger Project From by the play by August Strindberg Directed by Martin French A review by Kate Barry

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If you stopped by Witches Brew Coffee on Frankfort Avenue or Germantown’s What the LOU this weekend, you might have seen two people sitting at a table. One person would have unloaded a bag of items and emotions while the other stares silently. The Chamber Theater has crafted together The Stronger Project, a one of a kind intimate theater experience in the most public of spaces.

The audition call for this work was very definitive and it shows; actors and performers who identify as female and find it difficult to be cast in shows for various reasons. Marcy Ziegler, Jeanette McKenna, Kate Bariteau and Sassy Nouvelle lend their talents to this work about accusations and secrets revealed. According to the social media and director Martin French, actors for each of the pop up shows are picked moments before the show begins. Creating a guerilla theater atmosphere, this public display of free theater creates a deeper meaning of private conversations and what it means to be an onlooker in these days of social media.

Staging a 10 minute play in a public setting is quite the achievement. The audience becomes a part of the action as reactions and potential participation or interruption could sway the chemistry of the performance. Because this was a 10 minute play, I stayed for two performances which I highly recommend. I was able to change seating locations between the performances as well which changed the experience.

As Ms. Y in both performances, Sassy Nouvelle gives a fully realized and smart performance with genuine reaction and expression. A silent role, Nouvelle played the part in the productions I saw and made full use of a subtle smirk, judgmental side eye and eye roll. Most impressively, Nouvelle’s silence is full and clear as she listens to the long monologue spoken by Mrs. X, played by Marcy Ziegler and then Jeanette McKenna.

The bond between these characters is strange and grows tense as Mrs. X throws accusations of cheating soon after a rambling display of gifts for her family. Ziegler’s performance ranges from woman scorned to one who cannot be defeated. She works her way through Nouvelle’s animated stares and draws her own conclusions of her husband’s possible affairs. Jeannette McKenna’s softer voice might have been drowned out to a further away audience member but she brings some emotional depth to the part. She is frustrated and hurt but her Mrs. X does not stand down.

The idea of performing in unlikely places is nothing new. three witches Shakespeare performed scenes in a bar last season and Kentucky Shakespeare Festival’s unplugged series from long ago comes to mind as well. Yet in this case, a private conversation in Strindberg’s play takes on new and different meaning. In the gaze of strangers, the play reflects certain realities in how we treat one another and what we really mean when we say nothing at all.

Featuring: Marcy Ziegler, Jeanette McKenna, Kate Bariteau and Sassy Nouvelle

The Stronger Project

The Chamber Theater

Nov 9 at 3 pm, 3:30 pm and 4 pm at Floyd County Library

Nov 10 at 3 pm, 3:30 pm and 4 pm at Mickeys Bookstore and Coffee thechambertheatre.square.site