Lamar production touches feminism, legacy and sisterhood through 'Reign of Terror'

Lamar University’s department of theatre and dance will present “The Revolutionists,” April 13 through 16 in the University Theatre.

The play takes place during the “Reign of Terror” from Sept. 5, 1793, to July 27, 1794. The action revolves around Olympe De Gouge, a playwright who is trying to overcome writer’s block. As she tries to make sense of the chaotic world around her, she is joined by assassin Charlotte Corday, former queen Marie Antoinette and Marianne Angelle, a Haitian rebel.

As the four women banter, debate and argue, they touch on themes of feminism, legacy and sisterhood during an upheaval that has degenerated into violence in the hands of masculine provocation.

Guest director Laura Moreno said the historical setting does not obscure the fact that it deals with themes that are still relevant today.

“A lot of students that say, why do we need to know this now?” Moreno said. “The way (Gunderson) frames things is, we have to know these things now because they're still happening now. And I think she does it in such a fresh and fluid way that anybody can really understand what she's putting out there.

“A lot of the things that the women are fighting for are the same things we're having conversations about right now — bodily autonomy, women's rights, and having a voice and not being erased from history.”

The play deliberately plays with the nature of reality and imagination as Olympe struggles to get her words and thoughts onto the page.

“A lot of times we feel as though the play should mirror reality, but reality isn't that cut and dry,” Moreno said. “There's a lot of gray area and I feel like this meta-theatrical lens allows us to see theater in a more abstract way. It allows us to be playful with it. Not exact with it, more of an essence, which I think are all really fun components for the actors, but also for the audience to play with.”

Brianna Cobos plays Olympe and said she has learned a lot about French Revolution as she researched the character.

“Although it's all just dialogue, it was real experiences,” she said. “These are real feelings of people who were at the edge, basically they didn't know when they were going to die. This whole play, as I'm playing Olympe, she is basically walking on her toes. It really does hurt because I never know when she's going to die because she's never aware.

“She knows that she's risking it all for art. She's very optimistic though. She believes that this is a perfect time to write something and save people's lives through the play that she wants to write.”

Dominique Roman plays Marianne, who is a composite of a many inspirational Black figures during the revolution, she said. Marianne represents the entire movement for the abolition of slavery. She is Olympe’s main sounding board, acting as both a foil and support.

“I think the most interesting aspect of this play is truly the sisterhood,” Roman said. “In trying times, they're all able to lean on each other and build this network of trust within one another, even though they all have different struggles. I feel like that's really important in today, especially when so much is going on in the world. We can all find a common ground.”

While there are strong feminist vibes, Roman said the play has universal appeal.

“For the most part, it's about the people,” she said. “It's about history and being able to really make your own world, really own up to your own decisions. So, regardless of it being about feminism or not, I feel like there's some really relatable themes that anybody can grab onto and grasp.”

Shelby Eason plays Charlotte, who, in real life, killed the revolutionary leader Jean-Paul Marat.

“She ended up assassinating Marat to protect the people she cared about most, because he was publishing articles that led to the death of her family members and neighbors,” Eason said.

Charlotte represents Olympe’s rage at the injustice that is going on, Eason said.

“She acts a lot of times without considering all possibilities,” Eason said. “She has her strong moral compass. She sees injustice, she acts out against it no matter what that means for her.”

Eason said she drew on her experiences as a woman to tap into Charlotte’s sense of injustice.

“My own past experiences definitely helped me navigate the emotions that go through this play,” she said.

For all the serious emotions the actors tap into during the show, Eason said audiences will have plenty of reason to laugh as well.

“It's a funny retelling of the French Revolution in a way that modern audiences haven't seen yet,” she said. “It's genuinely hilarious at times. And very serious at times as well.”

C.J. Jeffcoat completes the quartet as Marie Antoinette, who she describes as almost the comic relief.

“She's very bright and very joyful most of the time, but also unexpectedly profound,” Jeffcoat said. “She has a lot to say and sometimes it's funny and witty, but then also sometimes it's very profound and very caring and very unique to the sisters that she's befriended.”

Jeffcoat said the four actors’ personalities are similar to the characters they play.

“Our director keeps telling us, instead of putting on somebody else and pretending to be somebody else, she tells us to be ourselves and just on a costume of another character,” Jeffcoat said. “I think that's pretty easy for all of us to do just because we've found so many similarities between all of our characters and ourselves. So, the dynamic between the four characters and the dynamic between the four of us literally, is pretty much OK.”

Moreno said her style of directing is to make sure every actor, costumer and set designer is given a chance to shine.

“This has become a very collaborative effort,” she said. “Everyone has brought something to the table. Everyone brings ideas and it really feels like it is something we've created together rather than an idea that I had and I'm trying to execute through them.”

Showtimes for “The Revolutionists” are 7:30 p.m., April 13, 14, 15, and 2 p.m., April 16. For tickets, visit lamar.edu/lutdtix.