Scrap Paper Shakespeare's Dec. 6-15 Production of Claire F. Martin's 2023 Feminist Comedy, Arabella, Is Up Close and Personal at Yours, Durham

This review was published by Triangle Review on 12 December 2024.

Arabella — a new play by Atlanta, GA playwright Claire F. Martin, who is the artistic director of the feminist theater collective Belle Esprit — is being performed by Local theater company Scrap Paper Shakespeare until Sunday, Dec. 15th, at Yours, Durham (209 N. Gregson St. in Durham, NC).

Belle Esprit premiered Arabella at Atlanta's Shakespeare Tavern Playhouse in 2023, making Scrap Paper Shakespeare's production only the second time the play has been performed publicly.

Founded in 2018 in Chatham County, North Carolina, Scrap Paper Shakespeare is "a scrappy troupe of Shakespeare lovers" on a mission to create professional local theater that showcases plays by William Shakespeare, lesser-performed classical plays, and new works inspired by classic stories.

The Female Quixote follows a sheltered adolescent named Arabella Kennington, who was brought up by her widowed father in a remote English castle, where she naively expects her life to be as romantic and adventurous as the books that she reads.

When her father dies, a large part of her inheritance depends on her marrying her cousin Charles Glanville. She visits Bath and London, where Glanville, though concerned about her unrealistic ideas, continues to love her.

Meanwhile, Glanville's friend Sir George Bellmour attempts to court the wealthy Arabella in the chivalric language and high-flown style that she naively expects. In a climactic scene, Arabella mistakes horsemen, who are approaching her from behind, to be "ravishers" and throws herself into the Thames to escape them. During her recovery, Arabella is "cured" of her romantic fantasies and ultimately marries Glanville.

Claire F. Martin's Arabella incorporates the most witty and poignant lines from the book, while introducing important changes: Arabella's lady-in-waiting Lucy was a prostitute before Arabella's father took her in, and Sir George actually manages to deflower Arabella, leaving her in a much more helpless place. The play is entertaining in the manner of the hit Netflix series Bridgerton and has some wonderfully Oscar Wilde-like scenes.

Just going to Scrap Paper Shakespeare's performance is an adventure. The venue is actually Yours, Durham photo studio, a small glass-windowed space in a historical row of stores in Durham that is the size of a large residential kitchen. Considering that audience members are seated at the front and back of the room, there isn't much space for the performance itself. But that is what makes it most worth seeing. It's not just intimate. It's like the audience is on the stage, itself.

And the actors are truly professional, despite the audience that is quite literally leaning over them as they perform.

Lizzie Reynolds plays Arabella with persnickety, childlike innocence and self-centeredness reminiscent of Ariana Grande's performance as Glinda in the newly released film version of the musical Wicked.

Callie Banholzer switches between playing Arabella's lady-in-waiting, Lucy, and Charles Glanville's sister, Katherine, with the comically realistic talent of a Broadway actor. She feels the parts right down to their facial expressions.

Simon Kaplan is both endearing and commanding of respect in his portrayal of Arabella's father, the Marquis.

And Collins Wilson and Bryson David Hoff are charming in entirely different ways in their roles as Charles Glanville and Sir George.

Despite the small space and the apparent lack of microphones, all the actors project their voices as if they are on the stage of a large theater. I never had difficulty hearing dialogue -- or felt like anyone was yelling, for that matter.

The first act is truly a pleasure; but the second act seems superficial by comparison, tying everything up in a little bow that is too neat and, despite Charles Glanville's latitude and forgiveness of Arabella's indiscretions with Sir George, too conservative. The Female Quixote was likewise criticized. That said, the second act goes quickly. Not once did I wish the play had ended sooner. (I do, however, wish they would not use the giant vertical white light source at floor level, as it can blind audience members sitting opposite.)

Anyone who has ever thought of doing theater (or has a teenager with these thoughts) should attend one of Scrap Paper Shakespeare's remaining performances of Arabella. Go for the adventure of it, the unique venue, and to experience the intimate transition of theater between dramatic readings and large stage productions. The ticket price is only $15 for "Students, Seniors, and Artists."

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