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February 23, 2007|Volume 35, Number 19


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Sarita Covington portrays the famed "Hottentot Venus" in the School of Drama's production of Suzan-Lori Parks' "Venus."



Play restores dignity to
true-life 'freak show' icon

A South African woman who became known to the public only as a caricature is given the dignity she was robbed of in real life in "Venus," a play by Pulitzer Prize-winner Suzan-Lori Parks being performed Feb. 27-March 3 at the Yale University Theatre.

The School of Drama production will be directed by M.F.A. candidate Jessi D. Hill, who is staging the play 10 years after "Venus" debuted at the Yale Repertory Theatre.

In the play, Parks resurrects the forgotten life of South African Saartjie Baartman, the woman behind the famed "Venus Hottentot." In 1810, two Englishmen arrived in London with Baartman, whose enormous buttocks -- an adaptive physiological trait called Steatopygia that is common among women who live in hot environments -- guaranteed her fame. Promptly sold into a London freak show and billed as "The Hottentot Venus," Baartman became the talk of Europe, as well as the object of cartoons, pornography and scientific inquiry. Living out her life in public captivity and dying thousands of miles from her native land, Baartman's fame soon faded, only to resurface in the late 20th century as a new kind of public object: a political symbol of the horrors of colonialism, sexual objectification and scientific racism.

In her play, Parks presents the Hottentot Venus as a human being, endowing her with dreams and needs that are all her own, and allowing her to play an active role in her own life story.

"Parks' re-imagining of Baartman's story -- in which we can see our reflection -- is an epic journey through that most primal of human emotions, love," explains Hill, a directing student in her final year at the School of Drama. "I'll dig into this poetic and musical text for a delicate balance of rhythm and tone, to bring Baartman out from under the shadow of Venus and create her history anew in the theater."

Hill's directing credits at Yale include "The New Tenant," "Sincerity Forever," "Pardon My Queen," "Twelfth Night or What You Will," "Hungry," "Mickey Mouse Is Dead" and the upcoming "Marcus; or The Secret of Sweet." She has performed in several Yale Cabaret and Summer Cabaret shows. She recently served as artistic director for the Summer Cabaret (2006) and currently serves as a 2006/2007 Yale Cabaret artistic associate. Before coming to Yale, Hill was a Chicago-based director and producer of new plays and served as artistic director of Stage Left Theatre Company.

The 12-person cast for "Venus" includes Sarita Covington as Baartman; Elliot C. Villar as her love interest, The Baron Docteur; Bryce Pinkham as her exploiter, The Mother-Showman (among other roles); Brian Henry as The Negro Resurrectionist; and a chorus comprised of Caitlin Clouthier, Emily Dorsch, Joseph Parks, Jamal Rodriquez, Tommy Russell, Charles Semine, Tiffany Rachelle Stewart and Amanda Warren.

The play features scenic design by Michael Locher, costume design by Paul Carey, lighting design by Jesse Belsky and sound design by Greg Hennigan. Other members of the creative team are Miriam Felton-Dansky (dramaturg), Tarell McCraney (choreographer) and Jo McInerney (stage manager).

"Venus" will be performed at 8 p.m. each night at the University Theatre, 222 York St. There is a matinee at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 3. Due to the unique staging of "Venus," seating is very limited, and early reservations are recommended. Single tickets are $18; $12 for students and seniors. Discounted rates for groups of 10 or more are also available. Tickets may be purchased by calling (203) 432-1234; online at www.yale.edu/drama; or in person at the Yale Repertory Theatre box office, 1120 Chapel St. (at York St.).

For further information, visit www.yale.edu/drama.


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Campus Notes


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