Through Sept. 15, La Mesa’ Lamplighters Community Theatre is performing Lauren Gunderson’s “The Revolutionists,” a comedy that tells the untold story of four real women who were at the forefront of the French Revolution. Playwright Olympe De Gouge, assassin Charlotte Corday, former queen Marie Antoinette, and Haitian rebel Marianne Angelle find friendship, plot murder, fight for their rights, and lose their heads in “The Reign of Terror.” This grand and dream-tweaked comedy is about violence and legacy, feminism and terrorism, art, and how we go about changing the world.
The play is directed by Katrina Peterson, produced by Pamela Stompoly. Case members are Gabriela Jentzsch, Nicki Barnes, Jenna Pekny, and Adina Silva.
Peterson said this comedy is amazing since it is about revolution, political action, women’s rights, and other heavy subjects.
“But it attacks it from a comical point of view, and as a result, it is an evening of very enjoyable theater,” she said.
Peterson said Gunderson has written several plays that look at historical figures, sometimes particularly female, like “Silent Sky,” which is about female mathematicians that provided evidence that the universe is larger than the solar system. She said Gunderson’s “The Book of Wheel” is out now getting a lot of attention, about two actors try to complete the First Folio after William Shakespeare’s death.
“The thing I think she loves more than anything is words and a good turn of phrase. And the fun connections that she can see between historical figures and historical times,” she said. “That is definitely what ‘The Revolutionists’ is about. It is four women from the French Revolution, three of which are actually historical figures who were guillotined during the French Revolution. It is not unknown what is going to happen to these characters, but the conversations they have on why they are doing what they are doing despite the fact that they are dying is what makes this interesting.”
“The Revolutionists” contains adult language and themes plus brief mention of sexual assault, racism, and violence via execution. This production is best suited for those over the age of 13.
For more information and tickets, visit www.lamplighterslamesa.com.
