Amanda Carson looks imperious AF as the Duchess Penti Celia
The Duchess, who fights to impose order in her chaotic realm, was ironically the most spontaneously created character. Originally a plot device to orchestrate the conflict between Dames Anu and Grendela, the Duchess’ dialog and especially monologues just kept growing as I wrote. Every line she spoke seemed so beautiful, so nuanced and utterly, utterly different from what everyone else had to say. She reminds me of Ulysses in Troilus & Cressida, or Leonato in Much Ado About Nothing: vastly underrated characters that have fascinating things to say, provided a gifted enough actor can imbue those words with meaning (luckily, Amanda is a rock star in this arena).
Like Prince Escalus of Romeo & Juliet, Penti Celia has the rare misfortune of being a powerful and articulate ruler who is still ignored and disrespected by her underlings. But this exactly is the Duchess’ journey: learning that she cannot control everything. Her desire to be in charge is so great that she seems to almost enthusiastically embrace the possibility of open warfare, if it will allow her the power she once had as a military commander. Despite her frequent paeans to beloved peace, Celia is having as much trouble as anyone adjusting to a post-war society.
There are three echelons of Amazon society represented in The Wayward Women, and each group experiences uncertainty regarding how to live their lives without war. The Duchess’ echelon, like a mother, learns a looser grip might not necessarily grant you more control, but it will certainly give you fewer blood clots.
COSTUMES by Delena Bradley
LIGHTING by Benjamin Dionysus
PHOTO by INDie Grant Productions, LLC