One of the most provocatively titled plays to come along in a while will soon be on view, when “Sculpture In Vitro: Growing Up Female in the Age of Liposuction” plays Nov. 22 through Dec. 18 at the Live Bait Theater, 3914 N. Clark St.
Based on research and the experiences of co-authors/performers Shirley Anderson and Molly McNett, the show-reportedly brought back by popular demand (it ran for two weeks this summer)-combines performance and multi-media.
“We had this feeling that there was this terrible self-hatred about our bodies that never went away, as much as we wanted to ignore it,” says Anderson. “In the play, we point out the influences of family, school and the media.”
“When we are children, our bodies give us so much joy,” says McNett. “But as we grow older, girls are given subtle and not-so-subtle messages that our bodies are not good enough. We are told we must look perfect, like Barbie, if we are ever to be successful.”
The two started working on the project when McNett saw a newspaper article about a 60-year-old woman in Seattle who had had a face lift and was in great pain for 11 months.
“Eventually, she went in and fatally shot him (the plastic surgeon),” says Anderson. “Then she went home and killed herself. It was so intriguing. We wondered why she and other women could get cut up like that.”
Actually, it all sounds pretty heavy. “It’s a very funny play,” Anderson insists. “The only heavy portion I’d say is that we each share some deep and personal feelings toward the end. But most of it shows the absurdity of living in a world that is obsessed with body image.”