![\"Jeffrey](\"https:\/\/sduptownnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/Venus2-L-R-Jeffrey-Meek-Caroline-Kinsolving-5x7-300dpi-photo-credit-Daren-Scott.jpg\")
<\/a>Vanda, a struggling New York actor, arrives hours late for an audition. She is laden with a huge bag that contains costumes and props for her audition. Thomas, who wrote and is directing his own play, is about to go home to his fianc\u00e9e. Brash and unprepared, New Yorkese-spewing Vanda seems totally inappropriate for the leading role in Thomas\u2019s classical play based on Leopold Sacher-Masoch\u2019s incendiary 1870 novel, \u201cVenus in Furs.\u201d<\/p>\n
The male reader hired for the auditions has gone home, and against his good judgment and will, Thomas is persuaded to read a scene with Vanda. When she dresses in the grand lady\u2019s lace, she is transformed. Everything changes, and Thomas is transfixed. Just so readers know what they\u2019re in for, take note that Masoch\u2019s name evoked the term masochism. The evolution of Aphrodite\u2019s name is aphrodisiac.<\/p>\n
In a fascinating 100-minute whirlwind, each actor slips from his or her character in Thomas\u2019s play to his or her persona in Ives\u2019 play. The sexual tension is delicious, both in the play and in the play. Jeffrey Meek and Caroline Kinsolving turn in tours de force characterizations, providing some of the year\u2019s top acting. With admirable chemistry, they are by turns reserved, enticing, erotic, athletic and\u2014utterly without respite\u2014as fascinating and watchable as Ives\u2019 concept.<\/p>\n
Although both Meek and Kinsolving enjoy careers in film and television, each seems devoted to stage work as well.<\/p>\n Meek\u2019s memorable Rep roles include Jim Morrison in \u201cCelebration of the Lizard,\u201d Pale in \u201cBurn This,\u201d and Macheath in \u201cThe Threepenny Opera.\u201d He has great range, sensitivity and sex appeal. His perfect foil, the utterly fearless and gorgeous Kinsolving makes her Rep debut as Vanda. She was seen locally as Jo in the North Coast Rep production of \u201cLittle Women.\u201d<\/p>\n Realizing that this piece requires both masculine and feminine input in to fully explore its far-ranging meanings, Woodhouse wisely called in UCSD professor Kim Rubinstein to be his co-director. Surely a stroke of genius, and we loved the pole dance. Who\u2019s on top? Patrons must see the play to find out. Even then, Ives masterful construct leaves\u00a0 some doubt as to exactly what one has just witnessed and what the implications might be in a Miley Cyrus, cyber-sexting world.<\/p>\n Depending upon life experience, relationships and upbringing it\u2019s likely that each of us sees a different play, in this case sublimely cast and directed, and enhanced by Robin Sanford Roberts\u2019 imaginative scenic design, Jennifer Brawn Gittiings\u2019 gorgeously appropriate costumes, Lonnie Rafael Alcaraz\u2019s witty lighting, and George Y\u00e9\u2019s sound. Typical of the detail lavished on the production, Y\u00e9\u2019s play-out music is a section from Vivaldi\u2019 \u201cGloria.\u201d<\/p>\n A hit off- and on Broadway in 2011\u20142012, \u201cVenus in Fur\u201d is the nation\u2019s most-produced play this year, receiving an unprecedented 22 productions. The clever Ives, thoroughly grounded in the classics and with tongue firmly planted in cheek, is best known as author of \u201cAll in the Timing\u201d and \u201cTime Flies.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a>