Poopay (Holly Alexander, right) plies
her trade on Julian (Jeff Allen-Burkhart, left). Photo by F.
Lawler
Acting Like a Woman
Tired of watching movies and television shows in which women are portrayed as flawless, size four, vacuous beauties awaiting rescue from a hero, bemoaning their man-less status, or ineffectively railing against their husbands? Is there anywhere a woman is portrayed as a strong, rich, complex, human character?
That portrayal may be as close as your local theater. Communicating Doors, written by Alan Ayckbourn and produced by Next Step Theater Group, is a play about strong women, both on and off the stage. “The three principal characters in this play are strong women, each making choices that save themselves,” says director Rachel Rutherford. It is these three characters, Poopay, Ruella, and Jessica, who carry the plot of this intricate, time-traveling, comic thriller on their very capable shoulders.
“Next Step has always had a strong female presence,” adds Ann McCurdy, Next Step board member and executive producer for Doors. “Our board of directors has always been at least half women, and we have always been interested in producing shows that feature good female roles.”
“When I was in London in 1999, this was the hottest play on stage. I bought the script there, and years later decided to mount it here,” said Rutherford, who has also traveled to Denmark and Russia to study the art of theater.
“What I like about this play is that if turns convention on its head,” says McCurdy. “So many movies portray women as victims and/or prostitutes, end of story. But here the story starts with Poopay as a prostitute from the future and Ruella as the ultimate victim — she’s already murdered in Poopay’s time. Then they take on fate itself to prevent the inevitable — how gutsy is that?”
Doors stars Holly Alexander as Poopay, PJ Mohn as Ruella, and Jennifer Kay as Jessica.
Next Step Theater Group presents Communicating Doors by Alan Ayckbourn at Center House Theatre 4, Seaffle Center, March 3-12. Tickets are $8-$ 10. For more information, see www.nextsteptheater.com. Tickets available at the ticket window, or online at www.ticketwindowonline.com or by calling 206-325-6500.