Awoman’s perspective for the ages
Theater review: ‘This Little Light’ presents a mosaic of female identities
The world never sees all of who we are.
Inside, we may struggle to keep impulses hidden or even struggle to let an impulse out. Multiply this inner conflict by centuries and the result is a legacy that crosses generations of confusion and alienation.
Plus, maybe some laughs.
Someone called Sadie is working it all out.
As the futuristic character Extra-Solar Sadie muses, “My physical body has lived for 400 Earth years.”
Theatergoers get to know this Sadie — and three more Sadies — in Jennifer Faletto’s play “This Little Light,” which is currently on stage at the Venus Theatre in Laurel.
The play presents a mosaic of female identities (including a male who longs to “cut a very fine figure in a dress”) across time, each carrying an emotional burden of regret or guilt specific to their time. All are linked by a quest for understanding.
It all starts with, and is held together by, a modern day Sadie avatar.
Modern Day Sadie, played by Katie Hillman, is a millennial who storms out of a tent in the woods. She’s having a meltdown because her “self-imposed technology blackout” has cut her off from cellphone use for an agonizing nine hours.
“People are probably trying to get to me,” she says unconvincingly.
Then, the stage is taken over by another character, Old West Sadie, played by Deborah Randall, who bursts from the tent brandishing a revolver and carrying a coil of rope.
Old West Sadie’s melancholy monologue touches on her violent past, someone named Marie, a mysterious map and a beloved horse called Chester.
“I shot me a man, but only once,” she recollects.
The next persona is Shipwrecked Sadie, portrayed by Christina Day, a British fop in a court suit who has escaped from pirates and has a reverie about gender identity.
Finally, there’s Kyo Sin Kang as Extra- Solar Sadie, outfitted in goggles, a sleek space suit and silver boots. She chats with an unseen entity that communicates with electronic bleats. Her world is gone, leaving only cultural vestiges like swing records.
“We killed almost everything,” she says with a shrug.
Up until now, each Sadie has appeared solo, so it’s an abrupt transition when all four are suddenly on stage together as employees in a Macy’s dress department somewhere in a decaying mall.
As the play moves toward conclusion, reflections on life emerge left and right, including this sound piece of advice from Old West Sadie: “Always drink your whiskey from your shootin’ hand so as to appear friendly.”
Alesson for the ages.
Randall is also the play’s director and the founder of Venus Theatre. She keeps a lively pace to the play, which is the 63rd for the 30-seat theater.
“This Little Light” continues at Venus, 21C St. in Laurel, with a 3 p.m. matinee Sunday.
Tickets are $40 for the general public or $20 for members and $15 for seniors and students.
Information: venustheatre.org.
Inside, we may struggle to keep impulses hidden or even struggle to let an impulse out. Multiply this inner conflict by centuries and the result is a legacy that crosses generations of confusion and alienation.
Plus, maybe some laughs.
Someone called Sadie is working it all out.
As the futuristic character Extra-Solar Sadie muses, “My physical body has lived for 400 Earth years.”
Theatergoers get to know this Sadie — and three more Sadies — in Jennifer Faletto’s play “This Little Light,” which is currently on stage at the Venus Theatre in Laurel.
The play presents a mosaic of female identities (including a male who longs to “cut a very fine figure in a dress”) across time, each carrying an emotional burden of regret or guilt specific to their time. All are linked by a quest for understanding.
It all starts with, and is held together by, a modern day Sadie avatar.
Modern Day Sadie, played by Katie Hillman, is a millennial who storms out of a tent in the woods. She’s having a meltdown because her “self-imposed technology blackout” has cut her off from cellphone use for an agonizing nine hours.
“People are probably trying to get to me,” she says unconvincingly.
Then, the stage is taken over by another character, Old West Sadie, played by Deborah Randall, who bursts from the tent brandishing a revolver and carrying a coil of rope.
Old West Sadie’s melancholy monologue touches on her violent past, someone named Marie, a mysterious map and a beloved horse called Chester.
“I shot me a man, but only once,” she recollects.
The next persona is Shipwrecked Sadie, portrayed by Christina Day, a British fop in a court suit who has escaped from pirates and has a reverie about gender identity.
Finally, there’s Kyo Sin Kang as Extra- Solar Sadie, outfitted in goggles, a sleek space suit and silver boots. She chats with an unseen entity that communicates with electronic bleats. Her world is gone, leaving only cultural vestiges like swing records.
“We killed almost everything,” she says with a shrug.
Up until now, each Sadie has appeared solo, so it’s an abrupt transition when all four are suddenly on stage together as employees in a Macy’s dress department somewhere in a decaying mall.
As the play moves toward conclusion, reflections on life emerge left and right, including this sound piece of advice from Old West Sadie: “Always drink your whiskey from your shootin’ hand so as to appear friendly.”
Alesson for the ages.
Randall is also the play’s director and the founder of Venus Theatre. She keeps a lively pace to the play, which is the 63rd for the 30-seat theater.
“This Little Light” continues at Venus, 21C St. in Laurel, with a 3 p.m. matinee Sunday.
Tickets are $40 for the general public or $20 for members and $15 for seniors and students.
Information: venustheatre.org.
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