Fairy Tales with a Feminist Twist…or Redemption?
Theatre is a beautiful thing. Artistic expression is a beautiful thing, and it still surprises me to this day what discoveries artists bring to the table. In this case, regarding fairy tales. I do not know how new generations are consuming the fluff these days, or if there’s fluff to consume like back in my childhood days during the 1900s, where, for me, the experience has been rediscovering the true stories behind Disney’s botched tales.
In Riot Productions‘ latest piece, The Fairy Tale Monologues, an extended version from their Fringe presentations this year, there are recognizable characters like a charming prince (Tim Benson), a damsel-in-distress princess (Delia Mejia), a witch (Sarah LeClair), the baker’s wife (Jamie Feinstein), along with her baker husband (BJ Robinson), of course, and a narrator (Gigi Filipovich). Yet, they get a feminist do-over that I believe is truly a redemption and justice with very pertinent questions like “what is the name of the baker’s wife?” mhhh. Things that should be a given and pass unnoticed.
The twist also features live music by Christopher T. Miller, who gives it that enchanted feel. I appreciated seeing Tim, Sarah, and BJ in a singing light as I had only seen them in straight plays before. Directed by Julie Benitez, the chemistry between Benson and LeClair is undeniable and, in this piece, very steamy (yay for Camelina Cedillo’s intimacy). Which, going back to the redemption part, makes these women in the tales WOMEN. Flesh and blood, with wants, needs, flaws, and problems, creating a very interesting juxtaposition.
It is always great to see new talent, or discovering performers on stage, like Delia Mejia, who seems, in the beginning, like a damsel in distress but truly is a queer woman in love, caged in social norms. Delia delivered a strong performance and also had great scenes with Tim Benson, a swashbuckling one in particular, courtesy of Nicolas Castillo. Jamie Feinstein is warm, relatable, and tenderhearted as the baker’s wife (like what is her name anyway?). BJ Robinson is lively and vibrant as the baker, and Gigi Filipovich, who is both the narrator and “The Child,” is charming and fun.
I did not see the previous iteration of ‘Monologues at Fringe, so I cannot compare and talk about the added changes. In this fuller piece, LeClair’s intention is clear, highlighting these characters’ personalities and backstories. Most musical pieces need their pertinent runs to figure out what works and what doesn’t. I feel this dynamic would work better at a steadier tempo with more spoken word in between the songs for steady momentum and unified pacing. The concept with these fresh ideas is great and landed; it just needs a tad of fine-tuning.
The table talk for me after the show is digging into more fairytale characters and asking questions. Bravo to RIOT for taking these creative risks and exploring deeper into the work while sharing it with us.
Give yourself the opportunity and see what I am talking about. The Fairy Tale Monologues is currently playing at MOXIE Theatre until August 9. Check out BTS and cool content on their Facebook and Instagram.
