THEATER REVIEW: A frank look at sex and women in Urbanite's 'Freak'

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Is it possible to be deeply involved and slightly distracted by a play and performances simultaneously?

Ellie McCaw, left, and Summer Dawn Wallace in a scene from "Freak" by Anna Jordan at Urbanite Theatre. CLIFF ROLES PHOTO/URBANITE THEATRE

Ellie McCaw, left, and Summer Dawn Wallace in a scene from "Freak" by Anna Jordan at Urbanite Theatre. CLIFF ROLES PHOTO/URBANITE THEATRE

Twin feelings were at war in my mind (and a bit in my heart) Friday night at the well-produced opening of “Freak,” an American premiere by British writer Anna Jordan that opens the first full season for the Urbanite Theatre.

The play begins as a curiosity and grows more touching as you get to know the two characters, but it’s also distracting at first following the two women carry on monologues that occasionally overlap and split your attention and create some strong images that may cause your mind to wander more deeply into their stories.

Exploring the world of sex and women in "Freak"

How much you want to hear will depend on your own tastes and sensitivities.

Those who saw Jordan’s gripping “Chicken Shop,” the frank and disturbing play about sex trafficking and sexual discovery that opened Urbanite during the summer, will find the author deepening the exploration of sexuality and how it can be expressed and described on stage. Her two characters speak openly and in detail about various sexual encounters.

Summer Dawn Wallace as Georgie in Anna Jordan's "Freak" at Urbanite Theatre. CLIFF ROLES PHOTO/URBANITE THEATRE

Summer Dawn Wallace as Georgie in Anna Jordan's "Freak" at Urbanite Theatre. CLIFF ROLES PHOTO/URBANITE THEATRE

Summer Dawn Wallace, one of the founders and co-artistic directors of Urbanite, plays Georgie, a 30-ish woman in the wake of a recent breakup. She describes drug-fueled orgies with friends or new acquaintances, the thrill of the moment and the despair of the aftermath.

Jordan contrasts Georgie in an intriguing way with the teenager Leah (played by Ellie McCaw) who is contemplating her first sexual encounter with the “hottest boy in junior year” and what that means, and how it will change her life. She’s a smart girl, well aware that she’s making a life-altering decision. She thinks she’s ready, but is she prepared for the constantly shifting moods of teenage boys (and girls)?

Like her characters, Jordan is going for something deeper, an exploration of a double standard of how women can be looked at so easily as sluts or prostitutes for just for being sexually active.

By the end, Wallace and McCaw present two disarming portraits under the sensitive direction of V Craig Heidenreich, who allows for a gentle pace to help us absorb the material rather than rush through it.

Ellie McCaw plays a young woman named Leah in Anna Jordan's "Freak" at Urbanite Theatre. CLIFF ROLES PHOTO/URBANITE THEATRE

Ellie McCaw plays a young woman named Leah in Anna Jordan's "Freak" at Urbanite Theatre. CLIFF ROLES PHOTO/URBANITE THEATRE

At times, Wallace speaks in almost robotic manner but in a poetic style about her encounters, as though she’s become a bit numb to the adventure but still excited by them. McCaw projects a fresh naivete, mixed with expected nervousness, about what awaits her. It’s a terrific contrast.

The monologues never carry on for too long, but even if you momentarily lose track there is much to keep you involved on Kirk V. Hughes’ impressive set, a bedroom backed by a mountain of old clothes, debris and memorabilia from the two women’s active lives. Lighting designer Ryan Finzelber gives it a heightened touch with some back lighting and costume designer Becki Leigh has created outfits that speak to these characters.

“Freak” doesn’t have the same power and drive of “Chicken Shop,” but it does get you thinking about how the issues raised and how we treat one another.

THEATER REVIEW
FREAK
By Anna Jordan. Directed by V Craig Heidenreich. Reviewed Oct. 24, Urbanite Theatre, 1487 Second St., Sarasota. Through Nov. 15. Tickets are $24. 321-1397; urbanitetheatre.com

THEATER REVIEW
FREAK
By Anna Jordan. Directed by V Craig Heidenreich. Reviewed Oct. 24, Urbanite Theatre, 1487 Second St., Sarasota. Through Nov. 15. Tickets are $24. 321-1397; urbanitetheatre.com
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Jay Handelman

Jay Handelman is the theater and television critic for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, where he has worked since 1984. He also is President of the Foundation of the American Theatre Critics Association and a two-time past chairman of the association's executive committee. He can be reached by email or call (941) 361-4931. Follow him at @jayhandelman on Twitter. Make sure to "Like" Arts Sarasota on Facebook for news and reviews of the arts.
Last modified: November 5, 2015
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