Week #4: February 5 – 7

G.S.

Written by Jonathan Wilhelm
Directed by Jenna Messina

“This is the lesson history teaches: Repetition.” – Gertrude Stein.

Once there was a play. A play called G.S.
G.S. = Gertrude Stein
G.S. = George Sand

Gertrude was a writer. She wrote for art’s sake. Gertrude’s partner was Alice B. Toklas, a relationship bound to last. Gertrude used Alice as a character in her work, a loving portrait of her companion.

George was a writer. She wrote to earn money. One of George’s many partners was Alfred de Musset, a relationship bound to fail. George used Alfred as a character in her work, a vicious betrayal of her lover.

In G.S., Gertrude and Alice and George and Alfred find themselves sharing the same atelier in Paris. When their paths cross, the inevitability of history repeating itself is momentarily forestalled. G.S. poses the following questions: How do artists use the love of their muses to create their art? What effect does it have on their muses? Can a self-proclaimed genius learn about creating art from a self-professed hack? Can a serial monogamist learn about love from devoted lesbians? More importantly, what will Alice serve for dinner?

For mature audiences only. Full male and partial female nudity.

Click here to read the playwright’s blog about the process of writing and staging G.S.