BWW Preview: LASSO OF TRUTH Comes to the Unicorn Theatre in Kansas City

The Unicorn Theatre presents a Rolling World Premiere of Lasso of Truth at the theater located in Kansas City, Missouri. Johnny Wolfe directs the Lasso of Truth, written by Carson Kreitzer and co-produced with the University of Missouri at Kansas City Theatre. The show runs January 28 through February 15, with opening night on January 31.

Many of us have grown up with the tales of a female superhero known as Wonder Woman, who possesses a variety of weapons, which includes the Lasso of Truth or Golden Lasso and an invisible airplane. Now the Unicorn Theatre brings the multimedia theatrical experience to the stage with Lasso of Truth, the tale of William Moulton Marston, his wife, and the other woman (a student, known as the Amazon) he lived with who inspired the comic book heroine. Marston, a psychologist, invented the lie detector and was obsessed with "truth" and "lies" and his repeated failed attempts to get the device admitted into court as evidence.

Playwright Carson Kreitzer has said, "These are fictional characters, inspired by real people. Some names have been changed for poetic reasons: to indicate distance from their points of origin, and that I am making no claim to know the truth. There's no objective truth anyway, right? But this stuff is true."

Critics have praised this play as "appealing, original and erotic... an idea-packed and brilliantly cartoon-enhanced play" - Robert Hurwitt, San Francisco Chronicle. It has been hailed as "smart, sexy... Wonder Woman gets her due" - Georgia Rowe, San Francisco Examiner.

Martin Buchanan returns to the Unicorn in the starring role as the inventor Marston. He has previously appeared at the Unicorn in Hands on a Hardbody and Mame'd. A veteran of the Kansas City stage he has appeared with the Kansas City Repertory Theatre, The Coterie Theatre, The New Theatre Restaurant, Starlight, and Spinning Tree Theatre among others.

Carla Noack stars as Marston's wife, returning to the Unicorn where she previously appeared in Grounded and Time Stands Still. Recently invited to join the Coterie Theatre Board she has appeared with the Heart of America Shakespeare Festival, the Kansas City Actors Theatre, and the Kansas City Repertory Theatre among others.

Vanessa Severo returns to the Unicorn in the role of the student, known as the Amazon. She previously appeared at the theater in Venus in Fur, The Motherf***er with the Hat, Green Whales, The Clean House, and Bright Ideas. She has appeared with The Kansas City Repertory Theatre, The Coterie Theatre, The American Heartland Theatre, and Egads Theatre Company among others.

Jamie Dufault plays the Guy in his Unicorn Theatre debut. Currently a third year MFA acting student at UMKC he has previously appeared with the Kansas City Repertory Theatre. Laura Jacobs appears as the Girl and makes her debut with the Unicorn. She has previously appeared at the Kansas City Fringe Festival, Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre, and The New Theatre Restaurant among others.

The National New Play Network, the Missouri Arts Council, and The National Endowment for the Arts provide sponsorship for the Lasso of Truth. Purchase tickets by calling the box office at 816-531-7529 extension 10 or visit the Unicorn Theatre website. Tuesday and Wednesday performances are Pay What U Can, because art is for everyone. Photo by Cynthia Levin courtesy of the Unicorn Theatre.

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