Marie Antoinette

Ann Liv Young’s Marie Antoinette is a play within a play. The first play is the story of Alex Sabina and Tom Ruth, both amateur performers in real life. They fantasize about being famous but are marginalized citizens: white, fat, poor and mentally ill. For them, performing in front of an audience is as much a fantasy as being a king or queen. Within this real life relationship is the second play, a structured and choreographed historical drama. Sabina and Ruth play Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI, another couple with problems. The Holy Roman Emperor Joseph II described them as “two complete blunderers,” historically important leaders who lost their constituencies. Overseeing both are Nurses assigned to help Sabina and Ruth through both the embedded production of Marie Antoinette and their “real lives.” This tableau is live directed by Young, who watches from a bunker, unseen among the audience while her voice is broadcast onto the stage. Using professional actors and non-performers in combination with Young’s unique methodologies, historical fiction collides with therapy and the very real problems of her cast.

Note: This production includes loud noises, violence, nudity and disturbing content. It is strongly recommended for mature audiences only.