Ka Leo Guest Columnist
Subtitled, "A Short History of the Vibrator," the play examines the circumstances that led to the invention of this remarkable appliance, and the effect it might have had on the lives of its creators.
Foster (Allyson Wood) is a straight-laced gynecologist who spends most of his working hours manually stimulating women to relieve their "hysteria." While Foster views the condition and his work as strictly medical, his obstetrician friend and eventual business partner, Charles (Emma Palumbo), sees things differently.
These women, contends Charles, need sexual stimulation. His licentious behavior surely violates some key tenets of the Hippocratic Oath, but the underlying truth of his conviction becomes clear in the events that play out between the two doctors, Foster's wife Nellie (Lani Hansen) and her friend Frances (Andrea Caron).
Hilary Wright's script emphasizes two major strands of the Victorian worldview: sexual repression and scientific inquiry. The cast does an excellent job of bringing the dialogue, and Victorian worldview, to life.
The performers clearly enjoy what they are doing, as they can't help occasionally smiling at the show's frequent, funny moments. Although the set is bare-bone, the biggest success of the crew is their creation of the prototype vibrator. It has to be seen to be believed.
Charles' costume must also be applauded. With her hair drawn back in a ponytail and bushy, gray sideburns pasted on her face, Palumbo brings to mind a lecherous Javert.
The choice of an all-female cast is a double-edged sword, however. The dynamic between the male and female characters comes with a certain tongue-in-cheek irony that adds to the humor of the whole piece. On the other hand, the show's viewpoint comes off as a bit too one-sided for it to pack much political punch.
While the production doesn't offer much in the way of serious enlightenment, "Hysterical" is good, bawdy fun that also serves as a useful history lesson. Be sure to enter the free drawing for your choice of a real, modern vibrator, which, incidentally, was won Saturday night by a man.
