Jen Silverman Evokes Laughter, Exposes Gender & Class Roles 

by Barry David Horwitz

“Collective Rage” conjures five women across the gender spectrum and follows their struggles to liberate themselves from old, patriarchal ways. They are all named Betty, numbered 1 to 5, played by extraordinary actors who embody Betties from Extreme Femme to Butch to “Genderqueer.” In 95 minutes, these cartoon Betties evolve into joyous revolutionaries.

Director Becca Wolff finds witty settings to present each Betty’s journey: each wants a Betty-er life in a better world. They face a slippery slope to re-inventing themselves through love and understanding. Jen Silverman suggests that change takes place first in the hearts and bodies of women in crisis.

Betty 1 delivers a riotous rant on all the horrors in the world, clutching a mike tightly. Her bland husband Richard is useless. As Betty 1, an Upper East Side socialite, Nicole Odell astonishes with explosive anger. Odell, ramrod straight, screams her frustrations, earning our empathy.

Betty 2, another spoiled New York socialite is shy and frightened, but she’s just ignored. She lives by harsh rules and is cut off from her sexuality. Atosa Babaoff’s brilliant, intense Betty 2 uses the hand mirror offered by Betty 3 to see her “lady parts,” sending her on a quest for liberation.

Betty 3 is hard core Femme, working at Sephora. As 3, linda maria girón creates a funny, bossy Latina who suddenly discovers “Thea-Tah.” Wearing rose colored glasses, 3 flaunts her sexy figure, sharing her discovery of “pussy” with her uptight, rich friends. Unforgettable.

Betty 4 (engaging Raisa Donato) is described as “a Butch Lesbian … gently melancholic … too often ignored.” Betty 4 tries to be heard in a cacophony of Femmes, but …. too often they treat her like a mere “man.” Donato’s 4 is steadfast, sensitive, and sublime.

Betty 5 (delightful Skyler Cooper} defies queer identity—crossing over into male territory—Betty 5 is “Genderqueer (masculine-of-center) … owns a hole-in-the-wall boxing gym.” Throws a mean punch, has a heart of gold, lovable.

It’s hilarious to see socialites standing at mic-stands, pretending to hold glasses, mingling with workers, their artificial manners on parade. In early scenes, they cry out against their prescribed roles. Later, miraculous laughter changes them all.

Once Betty 3 gets the “Thea-Tah” bug, she cannot stop—she quits her job and bounces up and down until she maneuvers the Betties into rehearsing a play under her leadership. Betty 3 proclaims that “pussy is art!” and directs her mixed-up version of the workers’ play from “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” which she distorted to “”Summer’s Midnight Dream.” And the comedy lovers, Pyramus and Thisby, get confused to “Penis and Thursday” for more delightful, theatrical hi-jinks.

When Betty 3 casts the Betties as Wall, Moonshine, Lion, and Prologue, they interact in more generous ways. Witty Betty 2 (versatile Babaoff) is hypnotic when she talks to her hand as puppet/confidante and then transforms herself in a wild musical climax—rich with songs and fun.

Silverman’s vast and chaotic canvas of women, who sometimes act as men, discover each other in a carnival of good will. Their discoveries offer a treat for the eyes and mind, challenging us to live honestly. “Collective Rage” overflows with joy and rare, wonderful revelations. A sure hit!

“Collective Rage: A Play in Five Betties” by Jen Silverman, directed by Becca Wolff, set design by Angrette McCloskey, sound design by James Ard, lighting by Ray Oppenheimer, costumes by Fatima Yahyaa, at Shotgun Players, Berkeley. Info: shotgunplayers.org – to August 24, 2024.

Cast: Atosa Babaoff, Skyler Cooper, Raisa Donato, linda maria girón, and Nicole Odell.

Banner photo: linda maria girón (3) & Raisa Donato (4). Photos: Ben Krantz