‘Earth to Venus’: The Complex Interplay of Trust and Transformation on Stage
Earth to Venus, the latest offering from COURAJ Productions, takes place at Venus Villas, a women's mental health clinic. What begins as a seemingly uplifting documentary project aimed at uniting the patients, gradually reveals darker motives behind the lens. This multilayered narrative deftly explores identity, community, and visibility, all while confronting the societal pressures placed upon women to appear, behave, and perform a certain way.
The show opens on a powerful note as Kaila Galinat (Maia) improvises on stage, drawing the audience into an atmosphere of reflective intimacy. With original music by Anna Luisa Luigi setting the tone — serving almost as another character in and of itself — the score is integral to the emotional journey of the piece, weaving seamlessly with the multimedia projections and the minimalist set. The set, a monochromatic white punctuated only by a cardboard cubby house covered in illustrations, invites us into the psychological space these characters occupy.
From the first moments, Jessica Gómez López (Naomi) commands attention, her portrayal layered with compelling vulnerability. Likewise, Catherine Andy (Gaby) proves herself a captivating force, excelling in the mammoth task of playing sincerity with sincerity. Kkuumba Siegell (Jade) enters from within the audience, delivering poignant monologues that reverberate throughout the space with emotional depth.
Samantha ‘Sammy’ Overton (Allister) shines, presenting a character with such raw emotional depth that they quickly become a crowd favorite. Overton is an absolute joy to watch on stage, with their precise physicality and deliberate pacing captivating the audience, particularly during emotionally charged monologues that anchor their character’s journey.
The chemistry between the actors is palpable, especially that of Galinat and López, whose interactions feel electric. Jasmine K Bernard (Bobbie), returning to the role, offers a sincere and heartwarming performance, handling the weight of her character’s emotional journey with impressive nuance.
While the production's intimate setting at Theaterlab’s Atelier effectively highlights the actors' performances, one can't help but wish for a larger stage to fully showcase the play’s expansive potential. Mahima Saigal’s direction reveals the depth and nuances of each actor’s performance, a masterclass in how a skilled director can bring out the best in the cast. There’s an undeniable privilege in the intimacy offered by this small, four-row venue. Through clever utilization of the multimedia setup, the audience was provided live close-ups of the actors, compensating for potential stage profile limitations—though, naturally, occasional technical difficulties risked disrupting the flow.
The transitions between scenes are smooth and efficient, and while the pacing slows about two-thirds of the way through, Galinat's levity brings the audience back into the action. The play culminates in a powerful tonal shift, one that allows the audience to marinate in the moral ambiguity of characters’ choices. As the stage transforms before our eyes, the internal and external worlds of the characters collide in a striking conclusion.
At a moment where narratives centered around mental health can, at times, feel clichéd or formulaic, Earth to Venus manages to carve out its own path with a distinctive voice. Collignon provides a fresh take, allowing the characters’ stories to unfold naturally, steering clear of melodrama and allowing the characters’ experiences to speak for themselves as they are brought to life by a skilled cast that makes this ensemble piece shine. As in Overton's bird monologue, their narratives come together to form a vibrant flock, one we were lucky to witness fly.
Note: Playwright Rachel Collignon originally played the character Maia for the first few performances (August 30, 31; September 1) before jet-setting back to France for other projects. Though I did not witness these performances, it would have undoubtedly been an interesting exploration with her in the role, as captured in the production photos by Ian Aric.
Played August 30 - September 8, 2024 in The Atelier @ Theaterlab. Visit the Earth to Venus Instagram page.
