If frank discussions about women’s genitalia—and the word “p*ssy” in particular—make you squeamish, then Desert Ensemble Theatre’s production of Collective Rage: A Play in Five Betties is not for you.
Others, however, will enjoy it as the raw, edgy, very funny look at women’s anger, frustration, relationships and sexuality that it is.
Written by Jen Silverman, this dark comedy premiered at the Woolly Mammoth Theatre in Washington, D.C., in 2016, before opening off-Broadway in 2018. It gives us a glimpse into the lives of five women named Betty, each of whom is in desperate need of some sort of change.
Betty 1 (Tammy Taylor) is a rich, uptight New York housewife who is filled with secret fury at her husband. Betty 2 (Angela Landis) is a rich, uptight housewife in a sexless marriage who is lonely, insecure and socially awkward. Betty 3 (Shelby Victoria) is a charismatic, pretty young Latina in a dead-end job looking for glory. Betty 4 (Katrina Dixon) is a lonely butch lesbian with tattoos who’s mostly interested in working on her truck. And Betty 5 (Ashton Loyo), also a butch lesbian, owns a boxing gym and is fresh out of rehab.
As the play opens, Betty 1 is ranting about the dire state of the world. It’s a viewpoint she’s formed based on watching hours of disturbing news programs—but what’s really behind her passion and outrage is her husband’s infidelity. Later, she hosts a low-key dinner party, which bores the self-assured Betty 3 (“There’s only one me, and I’m it!”), who enjoys sharing details of her sex life with anyone who will listen.
Betty 3 hosts her own dinner party, during which she gives Betty 2 a hand mirror so she can see what’s between her own legs. At one point, Betty 2 wonders if she might be bisexual or gay. Betty 3 responds: “If you’re not having sex, at this juncture, you ain’t got enough data!” Meanwhile, Betty 4 is secretly in love with Betty 3, who does not share those feelings.
After a memorable night at the “thea-tah,” Betty 3 decides to direct her own play, loosely based on Pyramus and Thisbe, the play within a play in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Calling her show Penis and Thursday, Betty 3 hands out roles to the other Betties. For each of them, the assigned roles and the rehearsal process are catalysts for their own personal transformations.
Director Kudra Wagner has skillfully brought together five strong actresses, who form an effective ensemble cast.
Taylor is fabulous as Betty 1. We feel her pain when she talks about her disinterested and unfaithful husband, Richard, and root for her as she expresses her pent-up rage at the boxing gym, all the while noticing her growing attraction to Betty 5.
Landis is particularly moving as Betty 2. Of all the characters, her arc of personal growth is the most profound. She starts out constantly saying “I’m sorry” for no reason and talking to a hand puppet because she has no friends. (The hand puppet scenes are hilarious.) Her metamorphosis is a joy to watch.
Victoria nails the role of Betty 3. Tall, beautiful and vivacious, she exudes energy onstage. Though her character is a bit full of herself and can be pushy at times, Victoria manages to make us love her anyway.
As Betty 4, Dixon is quite good. Hers is perhaps the most challenging role; often ignored and a bit gloomy, Betty 4 is struggling with her unrequited feelings for Betty 3. Dixon makes her anguish palpable.
As the “non-conforming masculine-presenting female-bodied” Betty 5, Loyo is excellent. She’s blunt about her personal viewpoint on sex: “P*ssy is p*ssy.” Considering her gruff demeanor, solid build and extensive tattoos, her attraction to the uptight Betty 1 initially seems unlikely. But in the end, it all makes sense, thanks to some strong acting.
In addition to excellent directing, Wagner also shows off her set designing skills here. The simple black set with moveable, multipurpose boxes works well. Having the plot set-up seemingly typed out on the back scrim at the beginning of each scene is quite effective.
DET’s Collective Rage: A Play in Five Betties is all about women—our power, our rage, our sexuality, our insecurities and our friendships. And, yes, also about p*ssy.
It’s provocative, outrageous, moving and hilarious. Don’t miss it.
Desert Ensemble Theatre’s production of Collective Rage: A Play in Five Betties will be performed at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday; and 2 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, through Sunday, Nov. 19, at the Palm Springs Cultural Center, 2300 E. Baristo Road, in Palm Springs. Tickets are $37.50, and the running time is about 90 minutes, with no intermission. For tickets or more information, call 760-565-2476, or visit www.desertensembletheatre.org.
