The Revolutionists

Revolutionists Critique
1. Revolutionists takes place during the Frech Revolution around

1792/1793 to July 1794. With the focus on the Reign of Terror known for
many public executions in response to revolutionary fervor. Th author of this
play is Lauren Gunderson, who created other plays like Time Traveler’s Wife, I
and You, and The Half-Life of Marie Curie. The Revolutionists is a comedy with
some meta jokes about violence, activism, and changing the world. It can be
meta that the playwright writes a play about revolutionists in the play but it’s
also about a revolution of the humane ideals for equality and liberation.
Historical context with political change and changing for social equality but
rather than her making history became a part of it.
2. The production of the play was an interesting way of describing both

the French Revolution and more modern situations like equality. The idea
throughout as during the second act they crash as almost everyone gets
executed drives home a harsh reality of the Reign of Terror and different
kinds of people affected by it. The situation at the beginning felt like
foreshadowing of the deaths of Olympe, Charlotte, and Marie with the
beginning song and ends with the song or during the when the character is
executed. The biggest change some have gone through is surprising they
were part of Olympe’s imagination, with Charlotte representing the voice of
the revolution, Marianne being political equality, and Marie for power of
words. It feels foreshadowed as why would all three of these characters just
show up out of nowhere for Olympe.
3. They acting of the characters were excellent especially during the

serious moments during act II which took a surprising quick sad turn for the
characters. Although for Charlotte didn’t have much when it comes to writing
with her character mainly being wanting to kill and is loud, so the actress did
her best with what she’s got. Marie’s actress stole the spotlight and gave the
audience the greatest number of laughs with the way she would deliver her
lines. Everyone actress worked well together, and all had their own moment
to shine with each other or separately.
4. The production like costume design and makeup was pretty good. A
lot of work for the makeup for Marie. A lot went to Marie’s design actually
from her wig, to her dress, with a tiny purse for ribbons, or to her incredible
makeup done, Marie had a lot going for her. One of my biggest complaint
with the production is the size of the set itself. It reaches as far as where the
audience is and people can lay their feet on it. From where I was sitting it
was close to an actress to. It’s a small nitpick but could go south somehow if
an actor accidentally trips over an audience’s foot.
5. The direction for the play was an interesting approach to meta jokes
with looking at the audience at the end of the play telling Olympe she does
have an audience for her, and French Revolution about change and liberation
for the time. It was consistent with the lighting and subtle details like some
books under the lounge chair and the tiny chandelier above for a single joke
in the story. The pacing was very fast and honestly thought it was a hour
long play at first until I realized there was an intermission. The scene can be
weird at first although there was one scene end with Marie saying a joke
about her ending the scene and the scene ends. I was able to understand
character moments for everyone as they got more compelling during the
second half. I was confused with how the imaginary characters were
executed in the end or was it metaphoric for what they represent being
killed.
6. I believe the director wanted me to understand the feminism and

equality from what I’ve seen the directing goes towards. Showing we can
change social norms if we create a liberation and revolution but it’s an uphill
battle as not everyone will accept it. I really enjoyed the fast pacing, quick
jokes, and characters interacting in this play and although the set had tiny
nitpicks and a lot of the time actors points away from the audience because
of the way the audience was set, the revolutionists was an fun take on the
Reign of Terror

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Revolutionists Critique

1. Revolutionists takes place during the Frech Revolution around

2. The production of the play was an interesting way of describing both

3. They acting of the characters were excellent especially during the

6. I believe the director wanted me to understand the feminism and

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