Georgia playwright Lauren Gunderson’s “The Revolutionists” is a darkly comedic play set during the French Revolution, bringing together four unlikely heroines — playwright Olympe de Gouges, assassin Charlotte Corday, former queen Marie Antoinette and Haitian rebel Marianne Angelle — who wrestle with art, violence, legacy and the meaning of change in uncertain times.
Gunderson, a Decatur native and one of the most produced playwrights in the country, is known for blending humor, history and humanity to examine how stories shape social movements.
Director Asia Meana said the rehearsal process has centered on what she calls the “revolutionary pulse.”
“My cast entered the frame and made the material,” Meana said. “They felt it, too — each of them in their own individual way — and linked their expressions into a collective one. The piece you’ll experience is the product of that union.”
Costume designer Nathanael Tria said the team approached the play with an eye toward parallels between past and present.
“It’s these connections to our past that drive ‘The Revolutionists,’” Tria said.
Scenic designer Lindsey Taylor added that the “paper theater” style of the set reflects the instability of the revolutionary moment, while lighting designer Andrew Neal emphasized that the design highlights “the individuality of Gunderson’s characters.”
Performances will be held at the Morton Theatre, 195 W Washington St., on Sept. 25-26, 30, and Oct. 1-2 at 8 p.m. with matinee performances on Sept. 28 and Oct. 5 at 2 p.m. The performance held on Oct. 2 will feature ASL (American Sign Language) interpretation for deaf and hard-of-hearing audience members.
Julie Ray, head of the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences’ theatre and film studies department, said the collaboration with the Morton Theatre has been an important part of the production.
“We’re thrilled to share this story in a space as historically significant as the Morton,” Ray said. “Our cast and crew have invested deeply in this work, and we look forward to sharing it with audiences.”
Tickets are $18 or $6 for UGA students and can be reserved at ugatheatre.com/revolution, by phone at 706-542-4400 or in person at the Performing Arts Center or Tate Center box offices.
