The Franca Rame Project

See it if you'd like to see a sharp young ensemble try its hand at playing last generation's farce--& packing a punch as forceful as today.

Don't see it if you have no taste for broad, body-based comedy.

Also Though the rationale for this show is to make better known the name of Italian writer Franca Rame who, a generation ago, wrote with her partner Dario Fo a string of broad, political farces that gained international attention, the real reason for seeing this production is as fresh at tomorrow: The troupe of 5 young, diverse, multi-lingual female & non-binary performers is, together & separately, smart, funny, affecting & powerful. That they are so compelling is especially important for those stretches of the piece in which the farce feels dated. But the final segment, involving the full cast & staged with the simple force that only unshakable personal testimony can achieve, is as powerful a piece of #MeToo theater as I have yet experienced. I am looking forward to seeing all these performers perform again.... Read more Read less

See it if you enjoy intimate theater by a good group woking with an old play that feels very fresh and current. Staging & lighting in non-stop action.

Don't see it if you want a traditional play. There is a lot of action here, some portraying violence, sex, abuse but none of it harmful or exposing to watch

See it if for the extraordinary exploration of women's issues that remain unchanged after 50 years - uses humor & shock to focus your attention.

Don't see it if you have trigger issues with rape, abuse or simulated explicit sex acts on stage.

See it if You want to see good acting about sexual abuse of women that has some singing and funny aspects.

Don't see it if You are disturbed about rape, and sexual abuse of women.

See it if you want to see monologues written for and about women, done in an inventive ensemble way with really good actresses

Don't see it if you know the original performances by Rame and cannot get over exaggerated, over-the-top acting (Franca Rame wouldn't have)

Also the spirit of these monologues is respected. Sadly, they are still contemporary after 50 years. Yelling and screaming is unnecessary: in fact, at times the production loses value because of the excessive interpretation. Humour and irony are better understood without yelling. Rame did not co-write these skits as an Italian sit-com/Lucille Ball type of actress... she did it to draw attention to serious problems of women in a male world (exploitation, expectations of being perfect lovers/mothers/housekeepers/workers AND be left/beaten/kept prisoner anyway, rape, etc.). The final rape monologue is well done, with the caveat that the music at the beginning is distracting, unnecessary, and seriously dissonant... Read more Read less

See it if You enjoy Dadaist humor, from a feminist perspective, and are familiar with Dario Fo and Franca Rame, and don't mind explicit sex

Don't see it if You cannot deal with dark descriptions of rape and explicit sex in the other two skits

Also There are 3 separate skits. The first was humorous and they got progressively darker.... Read more Read less

See it if to get to know Franca Rame and this company, which was brilliant!

Don't see it if you are not interested in anything remotely satirical or feminist

See it if you want to laugh, then cry.

Don't see it if You don't want to feel.

Also You will wander home feeling so shook and weighted, emptied but filled -- grateful that art exists because what else can we do but turn shit into fertilizer.... Read more Read less