Brides of Memphis
In Memphis, Tennessee, 1892, the love of two 19-year-old girls and their ill-fated attempt to live as a couple sparked headlines across the pages of American newspapers.
Jeneffa Soldatic, who plays Freda, one half of the historic couple, found a theatrical adaptation of the true events written by Gary Sunshine.
It’s a very romantic play, Southern, set outdoors in Tennessee -“ it’s very lyrical, Soldatic said. A beautiful story of two people in love and one person can’t be with the other person.
One wants to remain closeted and the other is willing to cross-dress. That happened quite a lot back in the day, she said.
Back then communications were so hard, yet it made it into the newspapers of both east and west coast. They had it down as some crazy European lesbian love thing.
Despite the gay themes, it first premiered at a mainstream festival in America to a mostly straight audience.
It was really amazing to see people, straight men, being emotionally affected by this show. It’s like Romeo and Juliet -“ everybody understands what it’s like to not be with the person you love, Soldatic said.
Kerry Flanagan, who plays Freda’s stronger partner Alice, felt the period setting helped remove the audience from contemporary preconceptions.
They were able to take in the story in a better way, their walls weren’t up, said Flanagan. They walked in, -˜Oh, nice period story, I can watch this.’ Then it snuck up on them.
Soldatic was attracted to the idea that society could dictate that two consenting adults could not be together.
They’re wearing different costumes but how much has really changed since 1982 when two girls couldn’t be together? Soldatic said.
Coming back to Australia, because we’re like America, changing the law of what marriage is between a man and a woman, I find it really archaic.
Soldatic and Flanagan will reunite with the original director, Bhanbhassa Dhubthien (Ning) for the Australian production.
In this production we’re going to use contemporary music to bookend the start and end, Flanagan said, just as another way through music to ask what has changed.
Al Takes a Bride plays 22-23, 27-28 February, 1-2 March, 8pm, and 24 February, 2pm, at The Kirk Gallery. Information and bookings on 0432 923 661 or [email protected].
