One of the best things about seeing a play at the Station Theatre in Urbana is that you’re likely to see work that would not be done anywhere else in town. Whether it’s because the script is hot off the Broadway boards, or because the cast is intimate in size, or because the content of the play is too racy to be done at another venue, the Station excels at showing its audience a good time. And every once in a while, all of the factors that might keep a show from being done elsewhere converge in a single production. Something new; something small; something…well…hot and bothered.
This Thursday, October 30, will mark the opening night of one of those “once in a whiles” as the Celebration Company presents David Ives’ literary and sexually charged Venus in Fur.
For the uninitiated, the back of the playscript explains the plot thusly:
“Thomas, a beleaguered playwright/director, is desperate to find an actress to play Vanda, the female lead in his adaptation of the classic sadomasochistic tale Venus in Fur. Into his empty audition room walks a vulgar and equally desperate actress—oddly enough, named Vanda. Though utterly wrong for the sophisticated part, Vanda exhibits a strange command of the material, piquing Thomas’ interest with her seductive talents and secretive manner. As the two work through the script, they blur the line between play and reality, entering into an increasingly serious game of submission and domination that only one of them can win. A mysterious, funny, erotic drama that represents yet another departure for the multifaceted David Ives.”
Sounds intriguing, no? I will confess that I have been a devotee of this play since well before it was announced as a selection for the 2014-2015 Station season. In fact, I’ve been following its progress with interest since it opened Off Broadway back in 2010. Under the direction of Walter Bobbie, the play starred Wes Bentley (of American Beauty fame) and a relative unknown named Nina Arianda in the role of Vanda. Although Bentley didn’t fare terribly well with some of the critics, it seemed clear that Arianda was a talent to watch, and she and the play garnered some seriously positive ink. A year later, when the play moved to Broadway (with Hannibal star Hugh Dancy replacing Bentley), the theatre world took notice. Arianda won a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role, and the play was nominated for Best Play.
Shortly after the end of Venus’s engagement on Broadway, regional theaters all over the country began snapping up the rights, eager to see the tension between their own local Thomases and Vandas. (I saw the Goodman Theatre production in Chicago last spring and enjoyed it immensely. Not a perfect rendering, but so much fun.)
It was only a matter of time, perhaps, before the Station laid claim to this provocative battle of wills, but the inevitability of Venus’s arrival in Urbana should in no way diminish its allure. This is the sort of thing the Celebration Company does very well, indeed, and it has assembled a promising group of actors and staff to pull it off… er, to get it up… um… You get the idea.
Under the direction of veteran company member Gary Ambler, the play will feature Thom Miller as Thomas and Laura Anne Welle as Vanda. Those who have seen Miller in such recent productions as Parkland’s Pride and Prejudice and the Station’s How I Learned to Drive can attest to his abilities playing smart, seductive, mysterious, even manipulative. And Welle, who has kept quite busy lately, will undoubtedly bring a spark to Vanda. She’s one of those actors you can’t quite figure out, and certainly one you can’t stop watching. You know it when you see it, and you know it when you see her. These sterling choices will be outfitted by Smile Politely’s own Thom Schnarre, whose costuming has never shied away from the daring or the dramatic.
I was able to get a few answers from the very busy Mr. Ambler, just in time to get his show up on its feet.
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Smile Politely: I’ve been fascinated with this play since before it hit Broadway (and I’ve jabbered about it to plenty of people ever since). I followed all of the New York press, saw the Goodman production last spring. I know why I like this show, but what drew you to it?
Gary Ambler: I came to the play later than you did, probably read your copy. But, once I found it, I was hooked. Ives is a smart, clever, and funny writer. He’s said that he doesn’t like writing plot, and that’s why he’s written so many adaptations. Venus in Fur is an adaptation overlaid with a simple yet puzzling plot. I love puzzles. Almost 20 years ago this month, I directed Ives’s first hit show, a collection of absurd little plays called All in the Timing. I’ve been a fan and follower ever since.
SP: The first time I read the play, I came away with the idea that Thomas (the playwright/director) was a lesser part than Vanda (the actress). But on stage, it’s much more balanced. You’ve had success directing two-handers in the past. What is it about that type of play that engages us?
Ambler: I do think it’s well balanced, though Vanda is, indeed, a very special creation. I like the form of the two-character play because, when it works, it’s so satisfying. It’s all about calibrating tension. And they’re great fun to play.
SP: It’s true with any play, of course, but with a two-person show, casting is so crucial. I happen to think Thom Miller and Laura Welle are great casting for this. What about each of them made them right?
Ambler: Let me throw out some qualities in both: serious, humble, fearless, intelligent, sensate, vulnerable, funny….
SP: All good ingredients for the dish. I’m curious…When you read a play, are there times when you react to it more as an actor than as a director, and vice versa?
Ambler: Yes. Often. And sometimes (as with Venus) the characters have such strong voices that I just read to find out what will happen.
SP: I can imagine that there are potential audience members out there who might be on the fence about seeing the show based on its purported content. [“Venus in Fur invites both carnal and cerebral excitement…” —Village Voice.] Obviously it’s not a “family” play, but what would you say to entice open-minded adults to come to the Station over the next few weeks?
Ambler: This is not just a comedy about Sado-Masochism. David Ives is a masterful writer. I hope you’ll be entertained by the journey, and surprised by the destination.
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That’s sort of the whole point to going to the theater, isn’t it? Not the S&M part, the journey… You know what I’m saying. I cannot suggest strongly enough that you take a chance on this show. Between Ambler’s own pedigree in the theatre community, the very smart casting, and one damn fine script, this production has a lot going for it. And that’s without counting the outfits.
Venus in Fur, a play by David Ives, will open Thursday, October 30th, at the Station Theatre in Urbana. All performances will begin at 8 p.m., and reservations can be made via the Station’s website or by calling 217-384-4000.
Photos courtesy of Thom Schnarre.