Theater often speaks to themes that remain relevant over time.
But it’s not so common that three one-act plays led by three different directors are combined, speaking to and celebrating the power of women.
That’s what’s in store this weekend at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church (768 Main St., Greenport) where Northeast Stage will present The Unseen Woman, a production of playwright Susan Glaspell’s three one-act plays — The Outside, Suppressed Desires and Trifles.
Glaspell, founder of the first modern American theatre company Provincetown Players, was known for writing contemporary works commenting on timely social issues. In 1931, Glaspell earned a Pulitzer Prize for Drama for her play Alison’s House, telling a fictional story of selling famous poet Alison Stanhope’s home after her death, revealing secrets and complex dynamics.
Mary Caulfield, Georgia Ciaputa and Becky Adams-Korn will bring their talents to the Episcopal Church stage, each directing an act featuring small casts of under five people.
“I’m curious to see the community’s reaction to the production,” says Ciaputa. “I think it’s a unique way of representing this force of women in our community while celebrating this playwright.”
The show opens on April 17 at 7 p.m. with a reception catered by and championing female-owned and female-partnered businesses like First and South, One Woman Wines & Vineyards, Special Effects Tea Room and Aldos’s Coffee Company.
Caulfield is an associate professor and chair in the English and Humanities Department at Farmingdale State College where she teaches predominantly drama literature. Having taught Glaspell’s work throughout her career, she was thrilled to be a part of the production. Caulfield will direct The Outside, an act full of expressionism exploring the emotions of grief and isolation in a quick, robust plot.
Ciaputa, who recently joined the board of Northeast Stage, will lead the portion of the three-act performance titled Suppressed Desires. This act uses satirical comedy to poke fun at the early 20th century craze for psychoanalysis, particularly Freudian dream interpretation.
And Trifles, which will be directed by Adams-Korn who has an extensive theater education, is about two women conducting their own investigation and informal trial as their female neighbor is suspected of murder — which at the time was atypical, as juries and trials were formally led by men only.
“I think it’s a really unique way to focus on women’s increasingly marginalized voices politically, when obviously we run the world,” says Caulfield. “I think it’s a really exciting and appropriate project to take on in the theatrical space right now.”
After opening night, The Unseen Woman will continue with performances on April 18, 19, 24, 25 and 26 with Friday and Saturday shows at 7 p.m. and Sunday shows at 2 p.m.
Coming in July, Northeast Stage is back with their annual Shakespeare in the Park production, this year putting on All’s Well That Ends Well.
Learn more about Northeast Stage and get tickets for The Unseen Woman here.
