Mae West, in her glory. (Sentinel archive photo)
John DiDonna’s Empty Spaces Theatre Co. will present a staged reason of Mae West’s gay-themed “The Drag” twice this weekend as part of its Dangerous Plays Series.
Originally written in 1926, West’s play was considered obscene in its time.
Previews in Stamford, Conn., were cancelled when the manager felt it was too risky to perform. The Society for the Prevention of Vice warned that if the play ever opened in New York they would move to censor all Broadway plays.
West was no stranger to controversy: A police raid of her play “Sex” in 1927 resulted in her entire cast being arrested. West served 10 days in jail on morals charges and paid a fine.
The play itself is strikingly contemporary in its view of hidden homosexuality and a general theme of how “wealth hides corruption,” DiDonna says.
The staged reading will be directed by Michael Wanzie and DiDonna. It features Janine Klein, Anitra Pritchard, Emily Killian, David Almeida, Wyatt Glover, Roger Floyd, Alexander Mrazek, Michael Colavolpe, Kevin Bee and Wanzie.
Showtimes are at 8:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 29 and 30, at the Lowndes Shakespeare Center. Each reading is estimated to take an hour; a talk-back session will follow each performance.
Tickets are $5-$10; patrons are asked to pay according to their ability. For reservations, call 407-328-9005.
Empty Spaces Theatre Co. plans the Dangerous Plays series to explore works that do not shock for shock value alone, but ask questions that challenge political, social, sexual, religious or philosophical mores. They do not necessarily reflect the personal opinions of those involved or the producers. The mission of the series is “Giving Breath to Dissenting Voices” — the unasked question is the only one that offers no value. The Dangerous Play Series is privately funded in its entirety.