– Solo performer Christine Demuth responds to some questions from DC Theatre Scene about The Missing Peace. –
– Tell us about the moment where you said to yourself: “I just have to do this!
As soon as I heard the music I knew I wanted to do it! I had never heard anything like it and yet it was also intensely personal- It was like Ron [Composer Ron Melrose] had made a musical out of thoughts and feelings that I had been struggling with for years.
But the thought of doing it also terrified me since it is a one woman show that is also a musical. The show itself is so brilliant but I wondered if I could pull it off. It sounds funny but I kept seeing this photo being shared on Facebook around that time.
It was a picture of a sign at Bansky’s Dismaland installation that said, “It’s Not Art Unless It Has the Potential to be a Disaster.” I thought that it was really a perfect mantra for Capital Fringe where we are encouraged to put our bravest and most daring work out there. I also kept thinking of something my mom had always said when I was young, “Feel the fear and do it anyway.” So finally I said, yeah, let’s DO this.
– Why is it important to you to do this show?
The Missing Peace explores the consequences of writing women out of the religious narrative. I really don’t think there could be a more timely show. Women are still so oppressed all over the world by the very religions that should be a source of inspiration and hope for them.
– What story are you telling in the performance?
The story takes place in a mystical “Celtic” land in a dystopian patriarchal society. We follow Brianna as she grows from young girl to woman while searching for her banished mother and healing her land from drought. Along the way she has encounters with her brother, a goat woman, a ferryman, a dragon… On many levels, the story is about the feminine face of God. It’s also about discovery, growth, facing fears, and overcoming great obstacles. It’s a spiritual story without choosing a religious path. It is a story about a woman finding her strength in a man’s world.
– What have you been learning about yourself during this process?
I was honestly surprised at how much I have been enjoying the production side of everything. As a co-producer of the show with StillPointe Theatre, I have been able to collaborate with the designers, director, and music director in a way that I never have before and it has been really exciting. It has also been really interesting to be so involved with the PR and advertising side of it.
Christine Demuth is an actor and singer in the DC/Baltimore area. She has worked regionally with Folger Theatre, Rep Stage, and Single Carrot Theatre among others.
For more information please visit: christinedemuth.com
The Missing Peace
5 performances:
July 9 — July 23, 2015
Logan Fringe Arts Space
Trinidad Theatre
1358 Florida Ave NE
Washington, DC 20002
Show details and tickets
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