Bacchus, the Roman God of winemaking, grape cultivation, fertility, ritual madness, theater and religious ecstasy is better to know to some by his Greek name, Dionysus. In playwright Madeleine George’s Hurricane Diane, Dionysus visits the modern world, but does not present himself for who he is. The play is currently having its West Coast Premiere at the Old Globe in San Diego through March 8th.
Dionysus takes on the form of a butch lesbian gardener named Diane (Rami Margron). The goal is to bring the earth closer to its natural order. In order to get the other characters in the play to go along with this idea, Diane will have to use all of her seductive powers. In other words, to be rather like Dionysus.
Jesse Green of the New York Times called George’s play, “astonishing.” George was a Pulitzer Prize finalist for her 2013 play, The (curious case of the) Watson Intelligence.
James Vásquez directs this production of Hurricane Diane. Joining Margron in the cast are Opal Alladin, Jenn Harris, Jennifer Paredes and Liz Wisan.
This looks like not just a very funny play, but also a thoughtful one, too. Perhaps just the kind of play the god of ritual madness and theater might love. Whether he/she goes by Bacchus, Dionysus or Diane.
Hurricane Diane runs 90 minutes and does not have an intermission. There is strong language in the play.
For tickets go here.
