Collective Rage: A Play in Five Betties - review

[Jane Zussman]

Collective Rage is an angry, comic romp through self discovery as five women(?) crash through unexpected relationships toward self discovery. I found it a bit confusing. (Why do they all have to be named Betty? It would help to have photos in the program.) Jen Silverman’s script calls for five women, but two of these actors had men’s names and one had a full beard. Anyone uncomfortable with LBGTQ/trans issues, and elaborate discussion of pussies, should probably skip this one. (Website recommends for adults 18+)

That said, I DO recommend this play — especially for younger people. (Let’s just say my 19 year old grandson appreciated it much more than his Grandpa did.) It speaks to the bad-news doomsday vibe that scares younger generations about the state of the world and their futures. The New York Times called it “a fult-tilt lesbian/bi-curious/genderqueer/Shakespearean comedy.” 

After a bad-news screed by Betty 1 (Liv Challa she/her) she and obsequious, Betty 2 (Betz Lund they/she) are invited to a dinner party thrown by the majestic diva hostess Betty 3 (Vahlarée Aidan Kakela she/her.) They check out their pussies in the mirror which somehow leads to staging a fragmented version of the Pyramus and Thisbee play within a play from a A Midsummer Night's Dream. Betty 4 (Joshua Thompson-Linton she/they) vies for attention but Betty 5 (Samuel Barrie he/they) ends up in matching business suits with Betty 1. Beth Lund, “the shy one” was ironically brave in her evolution and hand-puppet scenes.

Director Emma Quick notes: “Each of the five Betties is grappling with some form of confinement imposed by society, relationships, or their own internal fears. This play captures the loneliness people feel when they’re told who they’re supposed to be, and it explores the transformation that begins when people start to notice and question those roles and discover who they really are.”

The play is fast-paced and fascinating, 105 minutes without intermission, staged in the round with an elaborate floor and standing panels further describing each Betty (Set design Audrey R. Tieman) 

Admission is FREE but a limited number of vouchers are available for LCC’s smallish Black Box, Gannon Building entrance on Grand Avenue. Plan to arrive early and viisit the box office to pick up a seat voucher. The box office will open ½ hour before curtain. Reservations will not be taken.

Collective Rage continues 7pm Saturday, 2pm Sunday October 12 and the following Fri/Sat at 7.

Jane Zussman

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(Greater Lansing Ubiquitous Theatre)

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http://www.greaterlansingtheatre.net 

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