“Venus in Fur” will be shown through May 18 at Florida Repertory Theatre. COURTESY PHOTOS
Equal parts mind game and theatrical masterclass, the Florida Repertory Theatre’s production of “Venus in Fur” by David Ives explores the dynamics of power and seduction.
Teeming with erotic intensity and bawdy humor, the play follows the story of Thomas, a director and playwright who has been conducting auditions for his adaptation of a 19th-century German erotica novel. At the end of a wearying day of disappointing auditions, Vanda Jordan (who coincidentally shares the same first name of the lead character in Thomas’ production), storms in late, drenched, disheveled and hoping to land the lead role. Audiences should buckle up — this is no ordinary audition. As Vanda and Thomas role play, the audition becomes an intensely erotic, sexy tango that blurs the lines between acting and reality.
The play-within-the-play is a tale of subversion written in 1870 by Leopold von Sacher-Masoch. In the original story, a man asks to be dominated and humiliated by a woman, and they enter a contract where he becomes a servant to his “Venus” (Roman goddess of love, beauty and fertility). Not surprisingly, the term “masochism” is named after the author.
The “Venus in Fur” actors rehearse and discuss scenes backstage.
“It’s a supernatural thriller between an actor and a director in a rehearsal studio that fills you with surprises and lots of laughs,” said Florida Rep resident director Chris Clavelli.
Over the past few decades, Clavelli has worked in over 40 productions throughout the country and has won multiple awards. He serves as a faculty member of Point Park College in Pittsburgh and has written a book about acting entitled, “Notes From the Room, Your Guide to the Art of Acting and Show Business.”
“There’s a play within a play. There’s the actual audition for the play that the director is casting, and within that, they do scenes from the play. And the play is based on a book from 1870 that created the expression S&M. So, there is a sense of a romantic thriller — kind of like a ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ meets downtown New York theater,” explained Clavelli.
The “Venus in Fur” actors pose for a publicity photo.
S&M refers to the term sadomasochism, which combines sadism (derived from the Marquis de Sade) and masochism (derived from Leopold von Sacher Masoch). The term refers to the giving or receiving of pleasure through pain or humiliation — often sexual in nature. “Venus in Fur” is not for the faint of heart.
For inspiration, Clavelli drew on his own visceral memories of auditioning in the same buildings the playwright describes in “Venus in Fur.” The talented creative team, including set designer Kimberly V. Powers, costume designer Alice Neff, light designer Abby May, stage manager Janine Wochna, sound designer Katie Lowe and intimacy director Nicole Perry, worked together to create the supernatural effects and atmosphere Clavelli envisioned for the production.
“The playwright establishes the locale,” he said. “In this case, it’s an audition studio in what was once a sweatshop. I think it’s 37th Street between 10th and 11th Avenue in Manhattan, which is where all the clothes were built by all the really poor immigrant kids that came and sewed. I lived in New York for 40 years. I had worked and taught and auditioned in those rooms. I know those rooms. I’ve lived in the room. I’ve failed in the room. I’ve succeeded in the room. I’ve been lost in the room. I’ve spent a lot of my time in those rooms.”
“Venus in Fur” is currently running at Florida Repertory Theatre. COURTESY PHOTOS
For Clavelli, Vanda is imbued with almost supernatural powers, much like the goddess Venus, and the set, sound and lighting design of the Florida Rep production reflect the idea that Vanda (Venus) can manipulate the natural world.
“There’s also the added element of a thunderstorm going on,” he said. “This takes place on the West Side of Manhattan in the 30s in an old sweatshop, so when I read it, I thought, couldn’t the woman, Venus — or Vanda, but think of her as Venus — couldn’t that woman also have the power of Mother Nature? So, we built the sets and the environments of the play in a way that Venus can manipulate the lights and can manipulate the thunderstorm and can manipulate electric shortages and can change scenery. I mean, it’s magic. To me, it’s kind of a supernatural world, and she’s the goddess that comes to Earth and kind of changes this man’s life.”
“Venus in Fur”
According to Clavelli, the play delves beyond the concepts of power and seduction to consider the idea that all people experience a continuum of how their personal relationships control one another.
“Whether we’re conscious of controlling one another or being controlled by someone, we are,” Clavelli said. “And then, all relationships are on a continuum. We don’t know it, but maybe when we break up with somebody or we get therapy or we have some clarity, we go, ‘Oh, I didn’t know I was doing that in that relationship. Was I doing that? Did they do that to me? Were they controlling me or did I control them or was that the dynamic that led our relationship into happiness or into frustration?’ That’s when the play becomes universal, I learned a long time ago that to be universal, you have to be very specific. The more specific the relationship is, the more universal it is for the audience to come to see it. It’s not something that people can’t relate to. It’s a very particular kind of storytelling, but it is really about your relationship.”
David McElwee is a professional actor and teaching artist with Manhattan Theatre Club. He previously performed in the Florida Rep’s production of “Red” and brings extensive experience in regional theater to the role of Thomas in “Venus in Fur.”
“My character is a playwright slash director, which I think in the theater industry, that kind of role can sometimes be synonymous with a big ego.
He’s this very dedicated New York artist and he really wants his play to be as good as it is in his mind,” McElwee said. “Coming to this play, you get not only this very kitchen sink, contemporary comedy, you also get this sort of heightened period piece at the same time, which is super fun. It sort of has this sexy sort of legendary quality to it. At the end of the day, while it is sexy and thrilling, it’s also extremely funny.”
Professional actress, Emmy award-winning filmmaker and former attorney Kathleen Simmonds portrays Vanda in the production.
“Vanda is an aspiring actress who I don’t think has had much success in her career so far,” Simmonds said. “She comes into this audition room hours late and still hoping that they will see her after a series of unfortunate events that happened to her during the day and on the subway and the weather and all sorts of things. So, she goes about trying to impress this director and writer, and I think it makes a commentary on the power dynamics that are inherently in the relationship of director and actor.”
Simmonds draws on her experience and skill to take on challenges, including playing five “characters” in the play while switching between genres.
“I play the actress who comes in the character that I’m auditioning for. Then, when I make you play my character that I’m auditioning for, I play the other character in the play. Then I play a funny director, and then I play the goddess Venus, as well,” she explained. “The pace of this show, the heightened language and then switching genres into a screwball comedy, into a romantic comedy and then back into a heightened drama — it’s mindboggling, and we’re both fried by the end of the day. It’s only the two of us for 90 minutes. If one of us screws up, the whole train goes off the rails.”
“The three-week rehearsal period is difficult, but luckily, we like each other. We’re having a lot of fun in the room, and Chris has been a wonderful shepherd for us,” added McElwee.
Simmonds and McElwee encourage audiences to expect a thoroughly enjoyable theater experience.
“We’ve been talking to a lot of people around town and telling them about the show and how we think it’s going to be a great date night show. It’s quick. You’re only in there for 90 minutes. You’re going to laugh from the very first moment, and it’s fast and sexy. And then hopefully, you have a drink afterwards and try to figure out what the hell happened,” encouraged Simmonds.
“The intellectual stuff is all in there, but it just kind of happens in the midst of a very entertaining show. I hope that people watch shows and see the passion of the artists who’ve written these pieces, whether they’re contemporary or they’re classical writers. And I hope they can sort of understand a bit more about how the sausage is made, maybe have an appreciation for it all,” McElwee concluded.
“Venus in Fur” at the Florida Rep promises a whip-smart dance of power and desire that will make audiences laugh and reflect long after the curtain closes. ¦
In the KNOW
“Venus in Fur”
· When: Now through May 18, 2025
· Where: Florida Repertory Theatre, Artstage Studio Theatre, 2268 Bay Street, Fort Myers
· Tickets: $67
· Info: floridarep.org or 239-332-4488