| < CULTURE |
| Everything but the kitchen sink |
| lost & found anniversary series celebrates five years of Queer Soup |
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by
William Henderson
June 28, 2007 |
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Carefully, a 7-year-old girl picks up her grandmother's well used, cracked leather-bound Bible, opens to a random page and peering over the pages at her baby sister, proclaims in a stern, yet theatrical voice, "And the Bible says, thou shalt NOT disobey Mamaw!" Or so the story of Jess Martin's story goes. As the second of three children, award-winning Boston playwright Martin's clever and witty stories both entertained and united her small town Texas family. Queer Soup Theater, co-founded by Martin, is a collaboration of queer artists who cultivate new works that introduce, unite and incite audiences by using laughter to smuggle ideas across society's borders. The company celebrates five years of plays written and directed by Martin and fellow Queer Soupers with its new production, "lost & found: the anniversary series," running through July 21. "The word 'anniversary' is one that has many meanings, of course, but the queer community is getting to own that word in the sense of marking the length of a married couple," says Martin. "It's another form of validation, which for the moment, is only true in this state at this particular time. That makes it precious and, perhaps, a little incendiary since it is a battle of words that keeps marriage for the queer community in such a tenuous position." In celebration of their five-year anniversary, Queer Soup will produce a festival of six original short plays over two hours by playwrights: Martin, Lyralen Kaye, Ginger Lazarus, Karen 'Mal' Malme, Renee C. Farster, Betsy Phillips and a short film by Kathy Wittman. The plays in the festival, as its title suggests, share the anniversary theme. "It's been important from the very first production to be sure to give back to the community who supports us," says Martin. "It's also an opportunity for our audiences to learn about another organization or group who serves our community. If we don't serve and support each other, how can we ask others to do the same?" As the daughter of an American Red Cross chapter manager, Martin and her family moved frequently from one place to another. Born in Heidelberg, Germany, she spent most of her childhood in southeast Texas. Much of her early years included listening to Sunday sermons at the local Southern Baptist church. This introduced her to a dramatic storytelling style that engages and entertains audiences. In retrospect, she says, many of these stories alluded to Martin's own desire to both sidestep the confines of a small town and share with her audience a view that not all is necessarily what it may seem. For as a young girl growing up in rural southeast Texas, being a closeted lesbian was not easy. Her writing and storytelling became an outlet to explore her dreams, but also for Martin, the perfect outlet to express her views about the world, people and a changing society, while discovering herself. "I was dealing with identity issues growing up," says Martin. "Writing became a way to safely explore things I may have been afraid to talk about or even think about." Under the mentorship of Edward Albee at the University of Houston, Martin developed a passion for playwriting. She was one of six students accepted into Boston University's Masters of Playwriting program led by Nobel Laureate Derek Walcott and Artistic Director, Kate Snodgrass. Her professional career began in Boston where she produced her own plays under the production name, J. Rene Productions. Between 1999 and 2002, she produced "Girl Crazy" and "Tomboy." The latter was also performed at the New York International Fringe Festival. "There is something about playwriting that makes it a social act because it includes other voices, other people, it's a collaborative work. It's the orchestral form of writing," says Martin. In 2002, J. Rene Productions joined forces with the Brian & Mal Show to form Queer Soup Theater. Over the past five years, Queer Soup produced many of Martin's plays, including "My Yolanda Love," for which she was awarded the 2005 Artist Grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Council. More recently, Martin's play, "Home," was performed across Boston as part of a tour which went to churches, colleges and community centers throughout New England and has successfully raised critical discussions among students, healthcare professionals and the church community about the struggles of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender relationships in today's society. Martin's contribution to the festival is "The Sanzibel Putt-Putt Rally." As with many of her previous plays, Martin uses over-the-top humor to communicate an inner struggle between two passions: a personal affair and a professional dream. The lead character, Martha, faces the opportunity to establish a legacy as a lesbian golfer. But to do so, she risks losing herself and those who love her most. "The play addresses the importance of finding your balance," says Martin. "You want to follow your passion, but not lose sight of the world around you and how you affect the lives of others. If you lose that focus, the art stops." In the next phase of her development as a writer, Martin will be embarking on the Appalachian Trail for six months in 2008 with her partner, Kim Hoff. The journey of more than 2,100 miles from Georgia to Maine will be one that will both challenge her physically and inspire her artistically. If there is one thing countless journals about hiking the trail indicate, the trail is a ready home for storytellers. "I'm fortunate to do something I'm passionate about," says Martin. "You're not necessarily going to reap financial benefits, but it feeds your soul." ⢠"lost & found: the anniversary series" performs at the Boston Playwrights' Theatre, 949 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, through July 21. Tickets are $15 for students and seniors and $22 general admission. Performances take place Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 4 p.m. For more information connect to www.queersoup.net. |