A satirical riff on TV's reality dating shows lingers under the surface of this contemporary look at male-female relationships in a gender-fluid world. Sheela grills potential suitors, five historical men of science, philosophy, and literature about their treatment of animals.
To complicate any sense of reality, there's also a throne, bicycle race, game show, and circus acts that ignite contentious interactions and escalating sexual tensions. Physical fights break out in ridiculous bouts of hyper-masculinity.
With the help of our mythical Hare as host and advisor, Sheela rebuffs their lewd advances and eliminates the weakest links. Part emcee, part confidant, part ringmaster, the Hare’s not afraid to use the whip?!
Sheela must come to terms with the complex ideologies and behaviors of the contestants before offering her rose. Wary of being dominated by a masculine force that threatens to overwhelm her, Sheela’s conflict is between her intellectual, feminist self and the power of her physical, animal lust. Can a woman who chooses the macho man still be a feminist?
CAST OF CHARACTERS
The Hare: DANI MARTINECK
Sheela: KAT GONZALEZ
Descartes: ZERO BOY
Conway: ERIK GULLBERG
Owen: ANTHONY LALOR
Spallanzani: ADAM BELVO
Hemingway: DANA WATKINS
CREATIVE TEAM
Playwright: BARBARA YOSHIDA
Director: RALPH LEWIS
Cinematographer: IBEN CENHOLT
Production Designer: ANNA KIRALY
Lighting Design: DAVID CASTANEDA
Video Editor: IBEN CENHOLT and RALPH LEWIS
Audio Editor: MICHAEL ABIUSO
Costume & Makeup Designs: BARBARA ERIN
Production Assistants/Cameras: MADELEINE POPKIN, BARRY ROWELL, DAN LANE WILLIAMS
Graphic Artist: WARD SUTTON
Casting: NOMI TICHMAN
Actors appear courtesy of SAG-AFTRA, the union for professional film, television and radio performers.
Our Peculiar Works projects are being made possible with public funds from made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the City Council, and private funds from the Mental Insight Foundation, as well as our many, wonderful, individual donors.
