Beatrice killed her father; rumor held that he had raped her. She has been painted as a defiant heroine, as a virginal victim, as a blood-soaked avenger, as a feminist martyr, and as a scheming sexpot. Interestingly enough, male writers are the only ones (re)telling her story. Until now.
The tragic story of the beautiful patricide has been popular with artists across Europe for the past couple of centuries, including Percy Bysshe Shelley, Stendhal, and Antonin Artaud.
Almost 2 years ago, Artistic Director Catherine Aselford commissioned 5 playwrights to create short plays about Beatrice Cenci. The result is Belle Parricide, a theatrical kaleidoscope presenting shifting views of Beatrice.
The 5 playwrights are:
· Monique LaForce, who co-wrote Cherryred Production's hit Kenneth, What is the Frequency?
· Alia Faith Williams, DC-based actor and director, who is making her debut as a playwright;
· Briton Lucy Tyler (The Antigone Project, Origin Theatre and Theatre Absolute);
· New Yorker
Lori Fischer (Barbara's Blue Kitchen at the Lamb's Theatre,
Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park and the
Adirondack Theatre Festival, as well as several short films);
· DC native Rebecca Nesvet whose plays have won several awards and frequent productions in the UK and Romania, and her short play Double or Nothing was just presented in Toronto.
Belle Parricide is directed by Catherine Aselford and Nick Allen (Synetic Theatre, Old Lore Theatre) and features Jacinda Bronaugh (a Georgetown Theatre Company favorite), Sun King Davis (
Shakespeare Theatre Company, Factory 449), Prairie Griffith (
Studio Theatre, Inkwell),
Madeline Ruskin (Washington Stage Guild, Generic Theatre Company) & Justin Mohay.
For more information about Belle Parricide, please visit
www.georgetowntheatre.org or call 703-271-7770.
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