Wild White Rose

This five-scene surrealistic play opens as 21-year-old Rose meets Rudolf, and is intrigued by him despite the warnings of her alter egos, Sophie and Eliza, and her brother. Throughout the play, Rose and Rudolf interact as individuals, but also symbolize greater historical forces. Rudolf personifies totalitarian power, while Rose symbolizes youthful but naïve resistance to such power. As members of the play’s Ensemble, Rose’s other selves are feisty (Sophie) and introspective (Eliza), while Rudolf draws upon his own clones who are mirror-images of himself. Rose’s brother, meanwhile, attempts to protect Rose while engaging in his own resistance to unrestrained power, and a Social Elder (also part of the Ensemble) works to restrain Rose by appealing to conservative social morés that define feminine behavior. Together, the characters of the Ensemble should form a social environment for Rose and Rudolf; their blocking and movement always avoids the style of realism.

During the second and third scenes, Rose increasingly becomes more embroiled in Rudolf’s energy, feeling both enervated by his power and inspired by the challenge of resisting him. Images and metaphors of red and white roses pervade the dialogue, as well as the props, drawing upon the historical and cultural implications of both the flowers and their colors. In the fourth scene, Rudolf’s will to dominate comes to fruition in his murder of Rose. But he cannot escape the haunting consequences of his actions, for in the final scene, Rudolf is confronted by Rose’s resurrection as well as by those who are resurrected with her. Her legacy threatens to topple his arrogance and outshine his presumed dominance.

Play Structure:	5 scenes
Cast size:	8 – 12
Gender:	3 female, 1 male, 4-5 mixed-gender ensemble
Period:	Twentieth-century small-town time.
Location:	An older university town with touches of intellectuality and quaintness, in non-descript country.
Set:	A bare stage, with movable blocks and other simple pieces, should accommodate the changes of location.
Props:	Flowers, leaflets, rocks, white sheets, orchestral instrument, and bowl and pestle.

Production History

Wild White Rose received its premiere production by The Experimental Theatre Project (White Cat Productions) at the Chamber Theater in Seattle, Washington, on November 11 – 26, 2005. The play was directed by Beth Raas, and was performed by the following cast and crew:

Rose	Beth Anne Moceri
Eliza	Molly Mahar
Sophie	Jessica Stepka
Rose’s Brother	Matt Dennie
Rudolf	Sam Tsubota
Rudolf’s Clone #1	Patrick Allcorn
Rudolf’s Clone #2	Gavin Donnellan
Red Orchestra	Kira Walker
Social Elders	Brooke Hills Dawn Stoyanoff
Costume Designer	Margo Walker
Set Designer	Katie Lawrence
Props Designer	Katie Lawrence
Lighting Designer	Monty Taylor
Sound Designer	Kristin Holsather
Set Specialist	Bruce Wheelock
Light Operator	Monty Taylor
Sound Operator	Roza Skenderova
Set Construction	Noel Coble Ryan Keyser
Stage Manager	Roza Skenderova
ASL Interpretation	Bridget Long Natalie Rush Cynthia Wallace Bernadine Wentland
Poster Design/ Photography	Ken Holmes
House Managers	Amy Hartwell Kate Parker