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SYNOPSIS:
In the near future of a divided United States,
Doctor Rue Voynich and her apprentice, Fade, travel the
American Heartland dispensing herbal medications. Covertly, they
perform abortions--long ago made illegal.
Using knowledge from an ancient manuscript, Fade
tries to help local youth Hannah obtain an abortion without
her mother and the sheriff finding out and charging them for the
attempted murder of an unborn person. This post-Dobbs play
about mothers and daughters is poetic, sexy, vulgar, queer,
and a little too real.
Note from the
Director:
My hope for Dr. Voynich is to continue to hold
up the voices and works of trans and non binary artists in the
Bay Area. Diversity in theatre is necessary to keep it alive.
And the telling of stories belongs to everyone. Simple stories
of needs and hope and defiance belong to everyone. When we are
all regular people, stories transcend. We should be able to
see a part of ourselves in every character. If we can't, what
does that say about the telling?
CHARACTERS:
Masquers Playhouse does not discriminate on
the basis of an individual’s race, ethnicity, gender, sexual
orientation, or disability. We are seeking a diverse list of
artists for every role and encouraging all to submit.
NOTE: Actors do not need to be
gender of character, but do need to be comfortable presenting as
such. Please note that the play discusses abortion in detail and has strong language and
sexual content.
RUE, AN HERBALIST - (this role is
precast)
Rue is a middle-aged trans woman who performs illegal abortions in secret. She’s not unkind, but she’s a shrewd
businesswoman who is pragmatic to a fault. (“VoyniCH,” not
“VoyniCK”) FADE, AN APPRENTICE Age: Late Teens (18 or over) – Gender: female,
non-binary Fade is a mouthy teenager and Rue’s apprentice,
too naïve for her own good. Her heart speaks more loudly than her
head. A gay disaster.
HANNAH, A YOUNG WOMAN SEEKING AN ABORTION Age: Late Teens (18 or over) – Gender: female Hannah is a pregnant young woman who is
naturally clever and quite uneducated. She’s persuasive,
persistent, and impatient.
JESS, A MOTHER Age: 40+ Gender: female Jess, Hannah’s mother, never really learned how to understand
herself as an independent human with agency rather than as an
extension of “the family.” She’s protective, anxious, and
image-conscious.
HARRISON, AN OFFICER OF THE LAW Age: 40+ Gender: female The local sheriff, Harrison, is the kind of woman who believes that
abortion is murder and poor people should get better jobs. She
enjoys her power without understanding what it does to people she
cares about. In secretive relationship with Rue.
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