distressing damsels

FROM BRIANNA:

When I first heard that I would be playing the Damsel in Distress in a WWE style fight of epic proportions, my first thought was– those two images do not go in the same sentence! And my second thought was, I CAN’T WAIT!

The first showing of our act to the cast was a bit shocking for me. Truthfully I did not expect the audience reaction to be so angry towards the Damsel in Distress. I had not really thought about what it would be like that first week to perform it for an audience to be honest...I had been so focused on learning the fight in our rehearsals with maybe four onlookers. But since that first showing, I keep thinking about why it is that women are so anti-damsel. It seems obvious enough. She is weak and OF COURSE, women are not weak creatures. We have babies, deal with crotch scratchin' inarticulate men, and bleed once a month for God’s sake. I get it. I do. I would not consider myself a weak woman and many of my friends would not fall into the category. I am continually reminded of the strength the modern woman holds. She can be a high power executive or run a country. There is something strong about the woman who wants to be a mother, the best mother she can be and stays home to provide for them. She holds a unique strength that no man can touch...

The second showing to the cast or in some rehearsal (who knows, they all run together) I ad- libbed something about "Well, we all need a little help sometimes? Am I right?" There are two sides to every coin and each sword is double edged. While the women in the audience may boo the Damsel in all her whimsy and glorified submission...the fact remains, we all need help from others (be it women OR dare I say, men?) sometimes. While the Warrior Princess appears mighty and all powerful in comparison to the Damsel...perhaps it is just that I am more aware of my womanly charm and use it to my advantage? Is that not powerful? OR maybe the Warrior Princess isn’t all she seems...while she acts like a tough guy she really isn’t that much more advanced...she still needs her red lipstick and compact mirror. Maybe it is in fact the Damsel who is more honest? She knows what she is and gets what she wants using it? OR maybe the two are different as night and day and one SHOULD win and the other SHOULD lose? I don’t know...

But I’ve enjoyed figuring it out. Maybe this is just me being the actor sympathizing with my character, but I’d be hard pressed to find woman that didn’t have a little bit of damsel in her. :) And it doesn’t have to be such a bad thing! :)

And just for dramaturgical shits and giggles folks, CHECK OUT THESE GORGEOUS LADIES OF WRESTLING:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiXafKF9XCU