Content Warning: Topics of rape and sexual violence
There was once a debate in my house over whether my middle school and high school-aged brothers could watch the TV show “The League.” My dad said yes, my mom said no. My mom argued that the show was misogynistic, so I was called in to break the tie. Unfortunately, the pilot episode did little to support my father’s position.
The show included an act of sexual assault, but because the victim was not a woman, the event was treated humorously. After a heated debate, my dad and I took a break, and — although we both agreed that the scene was in bad taste — we discussed why we seemed to have different interpretations. What resulted was an enlightening conversation about consent, sexuality, gender and how perceptions of these concepts change over time.
Knowing the importance of conversation about these topics, I was excited to interview the directors for the upcoming Basement Arts production “SLUT: The Play,” written by American playwright Katie Cappiello, premiering virtually this Saturday, March 20 at 8 p.m. The show centers around a 16-year-old victim of sexual assault played by SMTD freshman Mackenzie Holley. Through her interactions with both her friends and law enforcement in the wake of her attack, this play demonstrates how slut shaming, victim blaming and objectification can harm victims and obstruct justice.
“SLUT: The Play,” which later became the basis for the 2020 Netflix original series “Grand Army,” was first performed in 2013 by The Arts Effect, an award-winning activist arts group in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., that has produced a number of original plays focusing on issues relevant to young people.
Director Alexandra Lee, SMTD and LSA junior, and the assistant director, SMTD freshman Tiara Partsch, hope the play will challenge audiences to think critically about their relationship to slut shaming and sexual assault. Having considered the increased popularity of the #MeToo movement, which gave victims of sexual assault an outlet to discuss their experiences, they knew that it was crucial to connect the gap between the 2013 and 2021 perspective on sexual violence.
This task proved to be feasible. “Frankly, the text, the dialogue (of the play), still very much resonates because not much has changed,” Lee said in a virtual interview with The Daily. “… So it wasn’t hard to adapt this play to make it more relevant to 2021, but it is something we took into a lot of consideration.”
In the rehearsal process, Lee and Partsch took great care to ensure that these sensitive themes were handled respectfully and that the actors involved felt comfortable and secure.
“With the actors, it was very much a collaborative process,” Partsch said. “(It was) nourished with a lot of conversation. A lot of ‘why do we do this play now? How do we approach it? How do we put this on without hurting anyone?’”
Like all Basement Arts shows, “SLUT: The Play” is free to watch on the Basement Arts Youtube page, but the organization also encourages attendees to donate to First Step and Safe House Center, local non-profit organizations dedicated to fighting domestic violence and sexual assault in Washtenaw and Wayne Counties. The show will also be available for 48 hours after the Saturday night premiere.
Accompanying the digital premier, Basement Arts is releasing three interviews to discuss the themes of the play on their YouTube page. The first with Meg McInerney, one of the creators of “SLUT: The Play,” and the second, with First Step counselor Vanity Catoni-Ellis, are already available. The third with the University of Michigan’s own Title IX coordinator Elizabeth Seeley will be published later this week.
Any updates to the release schedule of the interviews or of the play can be found on the Basement Arts website, Facebook or Instagram.
Daily Arts Contributor Micah Golan can be reached at micahjoy@umich.edu.