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Bitter Herb: A Play in Movement
The following description was submitted by the event organizer.
Join Speculative Drama and the Multnomah County Central Library as a fairytale world unfolds all around you with Bitter Herb: A Play in Movement. Based on the Grimms Brothers' Rapunzel, this immersive production asks the question of what it means to be a family and how to learn to let children go. Placing the audience directly into the action and taking advantage of the unique and stunning architecture of the Multnomah County Central Library, creating a world that envelops and invites you to see this classic folktale in a new light — exploring the story’s darker themes of protection vs. possession and punishment vs. liberation.
Bitter Herb is a free, all-ages production, but due to its immersive nature and general themes, it may not be suitable for children under 10. A mix of standing room and improvised seating, Bitter Herb evokes silent movies, classic storybooks, and stylized mask performances while integrating a contemporary sensibility through modern movement techniques and unconventional staging.
Due to the immersive nature of this production, all tickets are standing-room and improvised seating. Accommodations are available. Please email speculative.drama@gmail.com for details on accessibility and to arrange for accommodation.
Devising Director: Megan Skye Hale*
Cast: Elizabeth Neal*, Tim Sisk, Caitlynn Didlick, Lisa Neher, Damian Lichtenstein
Costumes and Props: Megan Skye Hale and Isabella Buckner*
Sound and Lighting Design: Myrrh Larsen*
Speculative Drama Artistic Director: Megan Skye Hale, Creative and Technical Director: Myrrh Larsen
*Speculative Drama company member
Speculative Drama aims to reclaim the relevance of myths, fairy tales, and classical texts through immersive, live theatrical performances. The goal is to better reflect the diversity of the communities served and to show that people of marginalized identities have a place in the classics, too. Through site-specific theater, rich and immersive soundscapes, and an extremely intimate setting, explore the intersection of classic stories and unconventional storytelling — creating an atmosphere of inclusion and innovation while honoring and maintaining the original texts or source materials.