ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar
OTHERWORLD THEATRE'S WORLD PREMIERE OF
GARTERS: A QUEER IMMERSIVE ROMANTASY PLAY
(18+)
From l to r Chloe Basset, Kylie Carrol, Bruce Holtman, Quinton Walker - Photo by Nadir Waxali
Evocative Theatrical Journey Explores Themes of Romance, Gender Identity,
and Representation
GARTERS is thoughtfully crafted for mature audiences aged 18 and older; viewer discretion is advised.
May 31 - July 7, 2024
Guest Review
by Dugan Kenaz-Mara
In Garters we follow the tale of the knight Sir Yvain on not his, not her, but their quest to retrieve a magical object for their king. Garters does an excellent job of exploring and explaining the nonbinary identity in a way that elucidates some of the struggles nonbinary people face. The play also uses a butterfly motif as a representation of gender and calls attention to the existence of the chimera butterfly - a naturally nonbinary animal - to easily lead people with no knowledge of gender identities into the conversation. If you’re looking for a performance during pride month, Garters is a perfect pick.
Jenny Hoppes and Kira Nutter - Photo by Nadir Waxali
Before seeing the show, there are a few things to take note of. First, it is rated R for sexual content. There is a bed placed at the center of the audience, and despite being obscured slightly by a veil, the audience members closest to it are mere inches from actors getting intimate. In a similar vein, the rest of the audience is incredibly close to the action. The house is tiny, with approximately 23 seats in 2 rows, meaning the actors (and their swords) get fairly close. The ensemble also talks to the audience during transitions between acts. Finally, because of the close nature of the seats, accessibility may be a concern for some people. We noticed that the seats at the end of the back row were high up without a step, and the gentleman next to us had trouble getting to it. Of course, the front row is still a great option and asking others to move may have helped make an easier path to those seats, but it is still worth noting.
Garters is a story full of fantasy tropes that features the plentiful twists and turns that come with the genre. There’s a sprinkle of murder, a dash of espionage, and more disguises than you can count.
The plot has just enough fantasy worldbuilding to make you feel like you’re actually a part of the world. We learn slowly throughout the show of the secret connections between characters, the folk tales that the people of the land heard growing up, the different occupations and lifestyles in each region of the journey, and most importantly the existence and importance of magic in the world. I loved how the magic brought morality questions into the story that we don’t face in real life. After all, if you can’t rule a kingdom without magic, should you really rule at all?
Yvain played by Kira Nutter - Photographer Parrish Davis-Sauls
A definite highlight of the show was the stage combat. Thanks to the intimate space, all of the action was easily visible and the audience got to feel like they were in the heart of it. One fight involves the entire cast, and utilizes swords, staves, and a rope for clever combat that you don’t get to see often.
An additional fun tidbit is that there was a raffia fan laid out on each seat for the audience to use. They could be used as actual fans if the theater got too hot, but were also perfect for hiding your face from an intimate moment or talkative actor.
Otherworld Theatre Company, the premier sci-fi and fantasy live theatre production company in North America, presents their world premiere mounting of playwright Natalie Zutter’s GARTERS: A QUEER IMMERSIVE ROMANTASY PLAY, running May 31 - July 7, 2024 at the theatre’s storefront location at 3914 N. Clark St. Tickets
($27 with some pay-what-you-can tickets available for each performance) available at www.otherworldtheatre.
Dugan Kenaz-Mara is a designer, photographer, educator, and recent graduate of
Northwestern University.
L to r Jenny Hoppes and Kira Nutter - Photo by Nadir Waxali
Once, two girls disguised themselves as boys to train to become knights. Seven years later, an unconventional knight and a worldly whore fallen on hard times meet at a brothel in the middle of nowhere and embark on an epic quest. Inspired by the works of Tamora Pierce and Jacqueline Carey, GARTERS is an epic fantasy play about the limited roles available to women and nonbinary folks in quest stories, and what happens when they don’t get to be the hero but don’t want to be the damsel. Experience an evocative theatrical journey exploring themes of romance, gender identity, and LGBTQ+ representation, thoughtfully crafted for mature audiences aged 18 and older.
GARTERS performances will be held Fridays and Saturdays at 7 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets are $27 and can be purchased at
www.otherworldtheatre; there are a limited number of Pay-What-You-Can tickets available for each performance.
Hedy played by Jenny Hoppes- Photographer Parrish Davis-Sauls
Written By: Natalie Zutter
Directed By: Blake Hood
Cast: Kira Nutter (Sir Yvain), Jenny Hoppes (Hedy), Jerome Michael Jones (Varic), Lauren Miller (Lady Dagomar), Chloe Basset (Lady Clotilda), Bruce Holtman (Innkeeper), Quinton Walker (Bandit), and Kylie Carroll (Laundress)
Production Team: Abbey Schnell (Stage Manager), Parrish Davis-Sauls (Costume Designer), Blake Hood & Tiffany Keane Schaefer (Set Designers), Sam Campos (Fight Director), Becca Schwartz (Intimacy Director), and Jake Mayer (Media Designer), Schnell & Hood (Lighting Designers)
Dates: May 31 - July 7, 2024
Press Opening: Friday, May 31, 2024 at 7 p.m.
Schedule: Fridays and Saturdays at 7 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m.
Location: Otherworld Theatre, 3914 N. Clark St.
Tickets: General Admission: $27 with a limited number of pay-what-you-can tickets available for each performance. GARTERS is thoughtfully crafted for mature audiences aged 18 and older; viewer discretion is advised.
ABOUT OTHERWORLD THEATRE COMPANYOtherworld Theatre Company (3914 N. Clark St.) was founded in 2012 to bring a theatrical experience to the science fiction and fantasy genre. The Company’s work celebrates the depth of human imagination by engaging spectators in high quality storytelling. Otherworld Theatre Company stages original works in its pay-what-you-can Chicago, Illinois venue, presents virtual programming online, and produces immersive Live-Action Role Playing events through its partner company, Moonrise Games. For more information: www.otherworldtheatre.org
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