When: March 5–21
Where: The steep and thorny way to heaven, SE 2nd & Hawthorne, Portland, OR
Price: $25 guaranteed seat, $18 GA ($15 advance); 12+
Tags: #immersivetheatre, #fairytale, #ContactAdvisory, #MobilityAdvisory (see below)
What happens when we cannot be seen for who we truly are? Can we really be loved without being known? And what exactly makes the difference between a blessing and a curse? Join Speculative Drama for our sixth annual play in movement Beastly to explore these questions through the lens of the classic fairytale Beauty and The Beast.
Drawing on early versions of the tale from around the world, our ensemble follows not Beauty’s story, but the prince who will become the Beast as we ask what it is worth to be seen to the heart of ourselves. In this original retelling, we eschew the idea that a selfish man can become kind through the power of love, and examine the themes which predate that famous French version of the story, exploring what happens when a good person cannot be seen for what they have to give because of their monstrous appearance.
In diving into the Beast’s story, Beastly tells us through movement, gesture, immersive staging, and music the tale behind what we think we know. From invisible servants to Beauty’s supposedly selfish siblings, we dive into a world that is not what we expect to find, a world full of kind witches, magical enchantments, and what it means to wait.
This production is “a play in movement,” drawing on the principles of mask and physical theatre and using a musical soundscape, and detailed costumes to create a fully realized and sumptuous world. While there is no audience interaction, Beastly makes ambitious use of immersive storytelling, placing the audience directly into the action with performers moving around and through the viewers to convey the story. (Due to the unique nature of the seating arrangement, please contact the venue at events@thesteepandthornywaytoheaven.com for detailed accessibility information.)
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Office facilities provided by Thymele Arts, in Los Angeles, CA.
Contact Level: None to Light (Business/Acquaintance). Audiences may be touched gently as an actor passes but there is nothing required of the audience other than to be present.
Content Advisories: Recommended for ages 12+.
The inside of the theatre is a flat room that can accommodate a wheelchair. We have limited guaranteed seating and some seats do not have backs. The bathroom has a standard door size and a sink that is stable and close enough to the toilet that it can be used as an assist bar.
Entering the building does require being able to mount 7–10 steps. We have staff on hand to assist with chair carrying or anything audience members are comfortable with and require.
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