Some shows defy explanation. That might be the case with the most intriguing show that just opened in Los Angeles. Revenge Song: A Vampire Cowboys Creation opened Thursday night at the Geffen Playhouse where it will run through March 8th.
Revenge Song comes from the mind of playwright Qui Nguyen (Vietgone, Poor Yella Rednecks). The inspiration for the play is the life of Julie d’Aubigny. Of his main character, Nguyen told Playbill, “For Julie, she was a commoner. There’s literally no reason for us to know anything about her except for the fact that she broke rules.”
d’Aubigny was a bisexual or possibly gay opera singer who was also a swordswoman in 17th century France. She apparently wasn’t shy. She challenged three men to duels (after openly kissing the woman they all admired in public) and won. After one fencing challenge, when her opponent said there was no way a woman could have beaten him, she bared her breasts to prove that she was indeed a woman.
Nguyen has taken her story as the inspiration for a world premiere (and Geffen commission) that finds him collaborating with Vampire Cowboys, an Obie-Award winning company. Revenge Song is directed by the group’s Robert Ross Parker.
Margaret Odette plays Julie with Noshir Dalal, Beth Hawkes, Tom Myers, Amy Kim Waschke and Eugene Young all playing multiple roles.
Matt Shakman, Artistic Director of the Geffen Playhouse, says of the show in the program, “They use unique skills in puppetry, fight choreography, filmmaking, scenic design and a comic book spirit to build a wholly original theatrical world – one that is intricately forged while maintaining a spirit of improvisation.”
I’m a big fan of Nguyen’s writing and this sounds like a wholly unique and original play. As a result, Revenge Song: A Vampire Cowboys Creation” is our top recommendation this weekend.
For tickets go here.
Photo: Margaret Odette, Amy Kim Waschke, Noshir Dalal, Eugene Young, Tom Myers in Revenge Song- A Vampire Cowboys Creation (Photo by Jeff Lorch/Courtesy of the Geffen Playhouse)