Dear Becky:
I had the pleasure of seeing your show Penis Envy this past Friday at the Louis Bluver Theatre at the Drake. What first struck me was the set, a visual of all the presidents of the United States, some painted by you, and some by your children. It hearkened back to my own school classroom, I remember being a kid looking at all those old white men’s heads and thinking this
was normal. Why question the fact that all the presidents were a bunch of crusty old white guys? That’s just the way things are, right?
Weaving in the personal with the universal, I thought the show really hit home when talking about the rigors of birth, being a woman in a ‘man’s world,’ (even the world of solo-theater, also dominated by men), and trying to maintain a life within it all. Your performance was very grounded and straightforward. I enjoyed how your movement was minimized, and I was allowed to really hear the text.
There were a lot of well-said lines in this piece that stuck out. I was focused enough that I couldn’t write them down, but for me, your writing stood out. I could see, and feel, that you are a writer. I especially related to your struggles about publishing. I myself recently graduated with an MFA in Creative Writing from Temple, and am trying to enter the publishing world. I love how you discussed the artistic world of publishing, how they gatekeep, and how we are forced to change and adapt as artists in order to be recognized, and survive. It all brings me back to the title of the show, Penis Envy. In a world run by a small host of psychopathic men, Penis Envy is an apt title. Who doesn’t want more power, especially when that power is being stripped away from them every day of their lives?
On a technical note, I heard every word of your piece! I didn’t lose a single sentence or line. Your diction and elocution resonate the story, and I think as movement is minimized with the sitting behind the desk, it really allowed us to cherish and savor your words.
I’m so happy we got to meet after and talk outside about fringe and life and the arts. That was super cool. I told a bunch of people about your show after, and I’m so glad more and more people will get a chance to discover it. Congratulations to you Becky! I look forward to remaining friends, and seeing your next piece of work.
-Chris Davis
Becky Bondurant’s Penis Envy played Sept 12-14th at the Louis Bluver Theater at the Drake.
Chris Davis’ The Presented plays Sept 14th-28th at Studio 34.
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