Teatro de la Luna’s “Mujeres al Poder” (“Kick-Butt Women”) feels like commedia dell’arte at times, with a cast of characters that are almost caricatures. There is the crass, arrogant Count Leofric, governor of Coventry (Peter Pereyra); his beautiful wife, Lady Godiva (Anabel Marcano); the clever maid Guendolina (Marcela Ferlito Walder); three Burghers (Mario Álvarez, Willie Padín and Alex Alburqueque) and a chaplain (Alex López-Montañez).
Yet it doesn’t take long to establish that the subject of this marvelously rich, imaginative satire of medieval times is not the relationship between lecherous Leofric and his frosty wife, but is in fact about how myths are created and given longevity.
Adapted from Jean Canolle’s “Lady Godiva” by director Mario Marcel, “Kick-Butt Women” begins with Leofric — portrayed as a mean-spirited ninny by Pereyra — devising a scheme to allow him to see his wife naked. Lady Godiva, it seems, is totally devoted to her charities and has no time for her husband.
But after she assents to her husband’s challenge to ride naked through the town, she is transformed, and with a little help from her maid, she becomes a woman on a mission.
Marcano is delightful as the naïve Lady Godiva, whose horseback ride awakens her senses. One of the most important characters in this piece is Guendolina, Lady Godiva’s maid, as she is the one who shows Lady Godiva the way to becoming a living legend. Walder is powerful in this pivotal role as the one who knows how to make history.
Alburqueque is entertaining as the ladies’ tailor, Peeping Tom, the only person in town who looked at Lady Godiva as she rode. The groveling, self-serving Burghers are humorously portrayed by Álvarez and Padín. López-Montañez plays the chaplain as a pious, blinkered automaton.
Teatro de la Luna seems to be as much a family as it is a theater company, and the closeness of the actors shows in the tight-knit ensemble work on stage. Marcel directs with wit and intelligence, making this satirical “Kick-Butt Women” a breezy, thought-provoking romp.
If you go
‘Kick-Butt Women’
Adapted from Jean Canolle’s “Lady Godiva” by Mario Marcel
Teatro de la Luna
Gunston Arts Center, 2700 S. Lang St., Arlington
8 p.m. Thursday to Saturday, 3 p.m. Saturday; through March 7
Box office: 703-548-3092
teatrodelaluna.org
