Amber Dillard, a longtime board member and performer with Buckham Alley Theatre, describes the alternative theatre as one that is “not afraid to take risks.” Their latest production fits that description.
Buckham Alley Theatre is an itinerant theatre, with no homebase, so their productions have traditionally been in many types of venues and locations in the Flint area. Their performance of the ancient Greek play Lysistrata by Aristophanes opens June 18 and has shows at 7 p.m. June 18, 19, and 20 presents a new challenge: it will be outside on the lawn at Whaley Historic House Museum. Tickets are $10 and available online.
The challenges of performing outside are self-evident: the weather and conditions are unpredictable and it is hard to control factors like noise, especially with the location of the performance right next to a busy expressway. But part of the appeal is providing a unique challenge for the performers and presenting Greek theatre in the way it was intended.
“Being in an open air theatre is an experience like no other,” said Dillard, who is directing Lysistrata. “The Greeks performed outside in a beautiful amphitheater with no microphones, and Jesus was their lighting designer, just like we are doing here. But live theatre outside is just a beast of its own burden. You’re dealing with the elements, you’re dealing with wind. You don’t know what the lighting is going to be from day to day. We’re also dealing with 475 traffic, so we’re trying to mute that as well. So those are the challenges, but also the rewards. It’s hard work for actors to be able to really use their instruments and project that far. But it’s something I really love, and I love to challenge other people to do so.”
Lysistrata is a comedy set in ancient Greece, first performed in 411 BC. Women from Athens and Sparta go on a sex strike to force their husbands to end the Peloponnesian War. Women take control of city finances and withhold sex until peace is achieved. The satire includes criticisms of war, gender roles, female agency, and advocates for peace. The play is recommended for people 18 and older.
Cast members include Katherine Lengyel, Destiny Brent, Mads Cardinal, Casey DeMoss, Seán ÓTuathal, Bart Allen Burger, Jason M. Lesiewicz, Calvin Ito, Coop Rhoades, Bethany Folland, Rebecca Norris, Melanie Poisson, Natalie Popadich, Marie VanHorn, Richard W. Hingst, C.J. McCarthy, Jim Waner, and Jim Yoder.
“In Aristophanes’ day, it would have been very raunchy,” Dillard said. “So it’s definitely not family friendly, but they’re going to be able to laugh. They’re gonna see some Greek history coming to life. They’re gonna see some characters that they really are going to connect to emotionally, maybe even physically, to bring excitement to everybody. It’s a riotous good time.”
Dillard said that Buckham Alley Theatre has done open air performances before in Kearsley Park, but she said that hasn’t occurred since the 2010s. She’s especially excited to partner with the Whaley Historic House Museum and activate the space on their lawn.
“Words truly cannot express how thankful and grateful that I am for our partnership with the Whaley Historic House,” Dillard said. “We are very pleased to be able to bring this to a historic home, bringing that history back here to Flint. And I do think that this might be something that maybe the Whaleys would have absolutely enjoyed, having live theater on their grounds and bringing the people of Flint into their home.”
Justin Wetenhall, executive director of the Whaley House, agreed that the home’s namesake family would be fans, saying that, “Mr. and Mrs. Whaley were big proponents of the arts.” Wetenhall also has a background in theatre, and he’s excited to explore more partnerships with Buckham Alley Theatre and other theatre groups to bring performances to the historic venue in the future.
The play will be performed in front of the conservatory, a space on the home that Wetenhall hopes to raise funds to restore down the road. A portion of the proceeds from the production will support restoration funding at the house. Dillard also noted that, since the show has military themes, they plan to offer military discounts and a military appreciation night during one of the performances. More information is available on the Buckham Alley Facebook page.
“This home, it’s not just a historic property, it’s a community space,” Wetenhall said. “It’s the people’s place. So we want people to view it as more than just a historic landmark, which it is, but it’s also a community space and a valuable asset to our community. So we would love to partner again with Buckham Alley, and theatre groups as well. It’s always a really cool experience to see a live production, especially in a space like this.”
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