This semester I am working tech for the show the Secretaries. It’s a work-study job much like the work I did last semester on Cabaret.
Without spoiling too much here’s a basic summary. Patty Johnson gets a job doing secretarial work for a lumber mill. She’s proud of her job, but her colleagues are strange and seem to only eat Slimfast. Little did she know that they had a dark secret. As she figures it out, she is also being indoctrinated into a murderous cult.
While the show presents itself as a comedy it deals with many deeper and darker themes.
This story touches on themes of homosexuality, eating disorders, and toxic relationships between women.
Our interpretation of this story is similar to an old campy horror movie. It takes place in the 80s which is very much reflected in the wigs, and the shoulder pads. In order to ensure social distancing, all the actors are behind plexiglass, but there are still scenes that need physical contact. The solution they’ve come up with really defines the tone of the show. We have barbie puppets dressed like the actors to demonstrate any physical contact that happens. The aesthetic of the barbies with their bright colors and over-the-top makeup is reflected in the actors' costumes as well. This creates a real contrast with the content of the show.
So far it’s sold out, but it’s being live-streamed, so if you register through the link below, you can watch it from home
Content Warning: This play addresses themes of suicide, eating disorders, self-harm, sexual assault, and a lot of screaming.
https://college.lclark.edu/live/news/44842-the-secretaries