Southern Utah University’s Department of Theatre, Dance, and Arts Administration will be opening the final show of their 2024-2025 season on April 10. “The Anastasia Trials in the Court of Women,” written by Carolyn Gage and directed by Jeb Branin, will play in the Eileen and Allen Anes Studio Theatre on April 10, 14, 18 and 19 at 7:30 p.m., with a matinee April 12 at 2 p.m.
“Anastasia Trials” is a play within a play about a radical feminist theatre company writing and staging a play surrounding feminist issues.
“There’s so many different understandings of (feminism), and even the diff
erent understandings of feminism can clash and not get along,” said Tikvah Kalder, who portrays playwright Lisa.
The play within a play is a courtroom drama about various women who knew Anastasia Romanov. It is partly based on the women who claimed to be Anastasia throughout history.
“The play takes the idea that one of them really was Anastasia, these women knew her and denied that she was Anastasia for a variety of reasons,” said Branin. “While it puts these particular women on trial for denying Anastasia Romanov her identity, what it’s really doing is exploring the complications of the many ways in which women’s identities are erased because of the patriarchy and even by other women.”
The audience of “Anastasia Trials” will have the opportunity to participate in the course of the show, with the woman serving as the titular court.
“The women in the audience get a vote on the different motions brought forth by the lawyers, and how the audience votes determines where we go next in the play,” said Branin, who, in his over 30 years as a theatre educator has never seen a play like “Anastasia Trials.”
Because the audience participation involves specifically female audience members, Branin allowed his stage manager and assistant director, both women, to make decisions about where the story went during rehearsals.
“I felt strongly I needed to sit down, shut up and listen and let the women in the room make those choices,” said Branin.
Because the show changes so many times, the actors have to be prepared for more than ten different outcomes.
“Generally, I just love to stay in character and try to experience it as it happens. That helps a lot with like, not being surprised,” said Kalder.
A benefit of the many possible outcomes of the show is that every audience will see a slightly different show than the one before them.
“I would be stunned if it’s ever the same play two nights in a row,” said Branin. “It’s just a really unique experience, as far as an opportunity to experience a piece of theater that may be unlike anything they’ve seen before.”
The cast hopes that audiences will enjoy the comedic elements of the show, while also considering the more serious messages.
“I hope people, after they leave, come to value their own opinions and the art of free thought and free thinking,” said Molly Pearson, who plays stagehand Betty. “(I hope they) come to appreciate the struggles of womanhood and the struggles that women have faced through history.”
“Anastasia Trials” is playing in rep with “Three Sisters,” with both shows happening in the same theatre on different days. The show is free for SUU students, staff and faculty.
“It really has just been such a fun journey and a really good experience,” said Pearson. “I think we’ve all put in so much work into it and so I hope people come and see that.”
Author: Tessa Cheshire
Photographer: Tessa Cheshire
Editor: Heather Turner
arts@suunews.net