A director. An actress. And a power struggle that takes on psychological and sexual dimensions.
That's the gist of "Venus in Fur," which debuts Friday at the Gilbert Theater.
The play stars Nicki Hart and Justin Toyer as the actress and director. The Gilbert production is directed by Brian Adam Kline.
The play centers on a director named Thomas who is putting together a play he adapted from the story "Venus in Furs" by Leopold von Sacher-Masoch.
Sacher-Masoch, whose name inspired the term sadomasochism, explored the sexual power dynamic between a man and a woman in the novella. The book inspired a song of the same name by underground rock band The Velvet Underground.
In the stage production, Thomas has written a play based on Sacher-Masoch's work. He is auditioning actresses for the female role.
At the end of a frustrating audition process, a woman named Vanda walks in.
"She's a wild card," said Hart. "She's an ambitious, aspiring actress. She really wants the part badly."
As the play progresses, the dynamic that has the director in charge of the actress turns into something more ... complex.
Kline has directed Gilbert plays including "A Streetcar Named Desire," "The Vagina Monologues" and "Hollow Men."
"This play is about power and it's about relationships," Kline said. "I have always been fascinated by the relationship between director and actor and this play explores that."
Hart is a familiar presence to area audiences, with appearances in plays including "Beauty and the Beast" and "Downrange" at Cape Fear Regional Theatre and "Hollow Men" and "The Vagina Monologues" at the Gilbert.
Toyer's local plays include "August: Osage County" and "Titus Andronicus" at the Gilbert and "Sense and Sensibility" at Sweet Tea Shakespeare. He said he has been enjoying delving into the complex character of the frustrated director.
"Thomas is a dreamer," Toyer said. "He believes passionately enough in the story that he's throwing everything he can into it."
Hart, whose character sheds layers of clothing during the play, said more than skin gets exposed.
"As she sort of takes off layers of clothes, I think she also takes off layers of herself," Hart said. "She exposes herself not only as an actress, but as a person."
Matthew Overturf, Gilbert artistic director, said he believes "Venus in Fur" gets back to the kind of plays the theater initially became known for — edgy, thought-provoking plays that provoke discussion long after the final act is over.
That said, Overturf said "Venus in Fur" is not for everyone.
"This is definitely a show for adults," he said, "not a show for children."