Pittsburgh Public Theater to Present VENUS IN FUR
By: Tyler Peterson May. 13, 2016
Long before Fifty Shades of Grey became a sensation, Leopold von Sacher-Masoch wrote an erotic novel called Venus in Furs (plural in his 1870 work). As David Ives' play begins, Thomas (Christian Conn), a young director/writer, has adapted that book for the stage. He has spent the day auditioning actresses for his play, Venus in Fur, but no star was found.
As Thomas is about to leave, Vanda (Whitney Maris Brown), bursts in out of a thunderstorm and wants a tryout. Believing the play to be "basically S&M," Vanda has brought along a dog collar, a leather skirt, and a pair of kinky boots. Self-important Thomas corrects her: "It's a great love story," he says. Eventually Thomas submits to mysterious Vanda's desire and the two read from Venus in Fur, becoming the elegant characters Kushemski and Frau Dunayev.
Both on script and off, the audition is a steamy cat-and-mouse game for power and control. Art and ethics, lifestyle choices, sexual etiquette, comments about theater, and gender issues are all raised - along with temperatures - in this play described by The New York Times as "seriously smart and very funny."
The designers for Venus in Fur are David M. Barber (Scenic), Tilly Grimes (Costumes), Peter West (Lighting), and Zach Moore (Sound). Casting is by McCorkle Casting and the Production Stage Manager is Fred Noel.
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