Victoria and Frederick for President

by Amalia Queller

Seeing Victoria and Frederick for President was like taking a trip through a history textbook and focusing on Victoria Woodhull, Frederick Douglas and Ulysses S. Grant.

Through a modern talk show with host Damon Stevens V and a series of flashbacks, we learn the story of the Damon Stevens I, the first black reporter for the New York Herald. He follows the campaign of Victoria Woodhull and Frederick Douglas as they ran for President and Vice President in 1872, shortly after the Civil War. We watch as the characters make tough decisions about fighting for what is right and damning the consequences or taking the safer route and compromising.

Victoria Woodhull was a strong fighter in the suffrage movement. Not only was she a successful businesswoman, but she also had the guts to openly publish the Communist Manifesto. She was tired of the slow change that women like Susan B. Anthony advocated and storms on for a revolution by running for president at a time when women could not even vote.

Woodhull chose former slave Frederick Douglas as her Vice-Presidential nominee. Douglas took many risks and made many enemies as he campaigned for civil rights.

It is the courage and strength of Victoria and Frederick that brings to life this historic tale of a time when a woman or black president was nothing but a pipe dream. An interesting comparison to our recent presidential race, this play is one to catch.

https://www.mosonproductions.org/

33 Variations

By Amalia Queller

After a 46 year hiatus from the stage, Jane Fonda makes an outstanding comeback in Moisés Kaufman’s new Broadway play 33 Variations. Ms. Fonda plays Dr. Katherine Brandt, a mother and musicologist who embarks on a journey to discover the mystery behind Beethoven’s obsession with “a grain of sand” waltz by Diabelli. While on this journey, Katherine discovers the love that exists between mother and daughter as well as friends and lovers.

While struggling with the acceptance of her terminal diagnosis, Katherine and her daughter Clara are finally able to understand each other. As their relationship is reborn, Clara is able to grow on her own and allow someone else into her life. Katherine travels to Austria in order to see into the mind of Beethoven. The audience is able to watch Beethoven struggle with composing as Katherine questions why the maestro would take on such a trivial piece of music.

When the two worlds collide, the real connection between Beethoven and this simple waltz is apparent – it is not until Katherine is truly able to comprehend the simplicity and beauty of the work that she is finally able to truly understand her daughter.

33 Variations has dynamic energy and passion. Katherine and Clara as an example of any mother and daughter who just can’t seem to break through to each other. This play exceeds its potential with strong actors and even stronger writing. It transcends age, gender and style and brings classical music into a forum where even hip-hop obsessed teens can appreciate the sheer beauty of the works.

How to see the show: $30 student rush tickets with ID • Eugene O'Neill Theatre, 230 W. 49th St. Visit www.33variations.com for schedule and more info.

August: Osage County

By Amalia Queller

Have you ever…thought that your family was crazy?


August: Osage County shows a dysfunctional family dealing with drug use, incest, infidelity and death. Even if your family hasn’t experienced any of these issues, you will still be able to relate to the characters–whether as the granddaughter sneaking out of the house to smoke pot or the home health aid caught in the middle of another family’s conflicts. All of the drama (and there is a lot of it) takes place under one roof, a hot house on the plains of Oklahoma–important not only as a location, but also as a state of mind.

All of the actors deliver compelling performances, especially Estelle Parsons. She plays Violet, the controlling and pill-popping grandmother at the helm of the family, who is able to manipulate her relatives through guilt and aggression, which only causes pain to everyone in her path.

As the family problems and secrets come to the surface, some relationships grow stronger while others are lost forever. After seeing this play, I felt grateful for the simpler dysfunction of my family.
How to see the show: $29.50 student rush tickets with ID • Music Box Theatre, 239 W. 45th St. Visit www.augustonbroadway.com for schedule and more information.

The Language of Trees

By Amalia Queller

What Language Do You Speak?

The Language of Trees follows the story of a family split apart by war. Loretta and her seven year old son, Eben, deal with the absence of their husband and father while he is stationed as a translator in the Middle East. Their stories are told through dialogue and monologue on several mini-stages, forcing the audience to exist in different places at the same time.

Eben, and his mother Loretta and her neighbor, Kay, begin as strangers starting off on an awkward note. We see Kay as the noisy neighbor that we have all had at one time in our life. Their friendship grows into a codependent relationship, while trying to allow each other to grow and heal.

The play also explores the renewed relationship between mother and son as they rediscover one another. We see the truth of story through the young boy’s naïve but honest eyes. We also experience the husband’s relationship with his own psyche and how he copes with the war, by creating a figment of his imagination in the form of President Bill Clinton to survive the solitude.

The casting of an adult, Gio Perez, to play a young boy was genius. His acting is brilliant. He embodies the precocious nature of the curious child we’ve all known. We were able to experience the situation through his eyes; his naivety and optimism allows us to experience the essence of childhood. The characters illuminate the central theme of communication.

The idea of a tree language is the theme that brings the story together and gives us insight into Eben and Denton’s relationship. This language is really Eben’s escape from the grave situation of his father. We also see the philosophy of Denton’s that helps us understand why he went to the Middle East in the first place: “Enemies are just friends who don’t know how to talk to each other yet,” which is the essence of this play.

How to See the Show: $20 student tickets available through www.hiptix.com. Steinberg Center Black Box Threatre, 111 West 46th St.

The True Tale of an Intern

By Amalia Queller

I love the theatre, but I hate being onstage. This led me to look for an administrative internship, so I would have the opportunity to work with the people who run the theatre. I looked through the internship guide in last fall's PxP and wrote my first resume and cover letter. Luckily, my parents gave me a hand. I sent out what felt like hundreds of emails and slowly started getting responses. The Women's Project asked me to come in for an interview and I was so nervous.

Fear, excitement and anxiety pulsed through my veins as I approached the offices. A little voice in my head told me to turn around, but luckily, I kept going because they hired me! That day began an incredible experience. I found an amazing group of people who were a fountain of information.

The first day was a mixture of intense fear of making a mistake and pure excitement. I gradually learned how things worked and got to know the people I worked with.

My intern experience showed me many of the different paths available in theatre: development, dramaturgy, artistic direction, stage management (check the glossary for definitions). I was also able to see shows for free (such as Aliens with Extraordinary Skills), meet all kinds of amazing people in the field and learn how to put on plays.