Scenes from a Feminist 'Revolt' on Stage at Soho Rep
From left: Molly Bernard, Daniel Abeles, Eboni Booth and Jennifer Ikeda in a scene from "Revolt. She said. Revolt again." by Alice Birch. Photo by Julieta Cervantes
Fresh after the well-meaning platitudes that heralded this year’s International Women’s Day, there’s a chance to consider how much progress has really been made in the cause of women with a sharp and intelligent new play at Soho Rep.
By turns hilarious, violent, shocking, poignant and, in its own words “not well behaved,” “Revolt. She said. Revolt again.” is an unconnected series of sketches centering on women by an up-and-coming British playwright, Alice Birch. Marking her U.S. debut, it’s an intriguing if somewhat uneven piece of theater, bolstered by an outstanding production with first-class performances from the cast of four.
The first scene finds a couple in the midst of a seduction, all going in an apparently traditional direction, with the man, the versatile Daniel Abeles who plays all the male roles in the play, calling the shots. But the woman, a vivacious and sparkling Molly Bernard, quickly turns the tables and adopts the language typical of men. The role reversal highlights the absurdity of pick-up lines and expected roles in the bedroom.
The action moves quickly from seduction to a proposal that gets seriously derailed as the woman recoils at the institution of marriage. Her would-be husband tries to bring her around with his vision of their cozy future of “online shopping and big vacations.”
“We can get a different ring,” he desperately offers. The woman, Jennifer Ikeda, is incredulous, the proposal sounding to her like a life as his chattel. This uncomfortable and extreme analogy is a hint of what’s to come later in the evening but not before Alice Birch’s ear for the banality of ritualized language provides another comic highlight.
One of the strongest scenes revolves around a boss who just can’t understand that a rooftop bar at work and other absurd incentives are not going to dissuade an employee, played remarkably well by Eboni Booth, from wanting to work a four-day week. There’s more comic relief in the form to two supermarket employees spouting corporate jargon as they try to deal with a woman who has had a breakdown among the watermelons, which offers some impromptu refreshments for the audience.
Without exception, all the actors handle the play's wide range of emotions, onstage costume changes, and set rearrangement that the play requires—including the stage directions that specify that if a female actor removes her clothes, male actors must do so too.
The action is underlined by projected slogans ranging from “Revolutionize the language (invert it)” for the seduction scene to “Revolutionize the world don’t reproduce.” By the time this phrase appears, the tone has darkened and extreme measures appear to be the prescription if women are to gain their rightful place in the world.
While the play sometimes uses shock tactics to make a point, it is a refreshing look at institutionalized sexism at its most flagrant and subtle levels. The cast navigate the sporadically staccato dialogue with aplomb and leave the audience anticipating whatever Ms. Birch writes next.
"Revolt. She said. Revolt again." is written by Alice Birch, directed by Lileana Blain-Cruz and stars Daniel Abeles, Molly Bernard, Eboni Booth and Jennifer Ikeda.
Through May 15 at Soho Rep, 46 Walker St. Click here for tickets.