For a lot of theatregoers, the name of Sarah Ruhl’s 2009 play gives pause — and then they’re likely either intrigued or offended. For those who choose the former, Blackfriars Theatre is staging “In the Next Room (or The Vibrator Play)” through November 9.
The plot follows Dr. and Mrs. Givings, a couple with a newborn daughter living in the 1880s during the dawn of electricity. Dr. Givings has recently invented a new electric gadget for treating hysteria in his female patients with what he calls “paroxysms.” It’s soon revealed that the wholesome, scientifically-minded Dr. Givings has invented the first-known vibrator, and the younger, energetic Mrs. Givings becomes quite curious about the sounds coming from the in-home exam room — and why her husband finds his “operating theater” more interesting than he finds her.
To some extent, the show is a female body awareness and sexual desire manifesto cloaked in a revisionist history lesson. But it doesn’t stray too far from the vibrator’s origins; it’s often credited to an English doctor, Joseph Mortimer Granville, or the “father of the modern electromechanical vibrator.” Granville wrote about his invention in 1883, noting it was most commonly used to treat hysteria, arthritis, constipation, inflammation and tumors in both men and women.
With “In the Next Room (or The Vibrator Play),” Ruhl as playwright takes some creative license to explore gender roles and sexuality in the Victorian age: repressed, dissatisfied younger women married to older men, bearing and caring for children while their husbands pursue careers and social activities.
These themes, along with infant mortality, race and women’s health issues are all tapped during the two-hour run. Under the direction of Patricia Lewis Browne, with assistant direction/dramaturgy by Shawnda Urie, the all-local cast and crew mounts a thoughtful-yet-spicy production with bodice-ripping humor and, likely, some inner reflection. (“Isn’t it strange about Jesus? Being a man, when it is women who give up their bodies,” asks Mrs. Givings, a new mother.)
In the role of Mrs. Givings, Jess Ruby anchors the show with ricocheting emotions, building her character’s ardent desire for more to a final climax. Danny Kincaid-Kunz as Dr. Givings is a worthy foil to Ruby, portraying a man who is loyal (if largely clueless) when it comes to both family and work. Brook Mordenga (Mrs. Daldry) and Rachel Solomon (Annie) have some of the more challenging scenes and breathe relatable life into their characters’ rather hopeless situations. Rounding out the cast with strong supportive performances are Tim Banning (the bumbling Mr. Daldry), Eddie Coomber (a Theodore Lawrence-like Leo) and Cynthia Brito (the wise Elizabeth).
A lush Victorian set by Allen Wright Shannon, elaborate costumes by Janice Elizabeth Ferger that are frequently un- and re-buttoned and Edison-era lighting design by Jena Overbeck creates a believable foundation for the characters. But perhaps most important is the intimacy direction by Lindsay Warren Baker — there’s a fair amount of physical interaction between cast members as well as shared “moments” with the vibrator, and it’s all performed with pitch perfect execution rather than a careless flick of the finger.
In a modern world overflowing with technology and instant gratification, “In the Next Room (or The Vibrator Play)” is a weighty reminder that true emotional intimacy and sexual satisfaction cannot be replaced by a vibrator, pornography or an AI-generated lover. Until the end of time, human-to-human touch and chemistry will remain the most powerful — the most climactic — of all connections.
“In The Next Room (Or The Vibrator Play)” runs through November 9. For tickets and more info, click here.
During the run of the show, BFT is partnering with Menses In Need, which provides free period products and fights the effects of period poverty and stigma. Show attendees can contribute by purchasing period products of any kind and bringing them to a performance — there will be a collection box in the lobby. Menses in Need will then distribute to local agencies and organizations serving Rochester.
