SALT LAKE CITY – PYGmalion Productions’ Becky Nurse of Salem by Sarah Ruhl tells the story of Becky Nurse, a woman living in the shadow of her descendant Rebecca Nurse who was accused of being a witch and subsequently hanged during the late 1600s. Well-versed in the history of the town, Becky guides tours at the local museum and offers patrons insights that aren’t necessarily taught in the average History class. One fateful day, after giving a tour to a group of high school students, Becky is fired from her job due to complaints about her behavior and candor. What follows is a glimpse into the life of a woman in survival mode, wracked with frustration over lost opportunities, strained familial relationships and a general sense of feeling misunderstood. Under the direction of Morag Shepherd, Becky Nurse of Salem is a dark comedy that doesn’t shy away from the realities of misogyny, addiction and heartache.
Acting
Teresa Sanderson gave a near flawless performance as Becky Nurse. Sanderson brought her character to life with her commanding stage presence and fully captured Becky’s grit and wit while also channeling her vulnerabilities. Sanderson’s portrayal caused me to laugh and cry, but more importantly to ponder. Perhaps Sanderson’s best scene was when Becky was advocating for herself in court – making the point that her ancestor Rebecca Nurse was unable to speak for herself. The irony that both Rebecca and Becky experienced hardships, even death, for either speaking up or remaining quiet was powerful. And is a reality all too familiar to most women today.
Perhaps most impressive was Sanderson’s ability to transition seamlessly from one scene to the next with virtually no pause in between. In one moment, Sanderson as Rebecca Nurse is undergoing a cruel and invasive interrogation process, and in the next is Becky Nurse during the modern era spending time at the neighborhood bar. This pattern of transition was repeated throughout the production and a true testament to Shepherd’s strength in directing Sanderson to remain in constant motion.
In addition to Sanderson was a remarkable supporting cast including David Hanson as Becky’s friend and love interest Bob, Reb Fleming as A Witch, Lily Hilden as Becky’s granddaughter Gail, McKell Peterson as Stan and Whitney Black as Shelby and Bryce Fueston fulfilling various roles. Noteworthy moments were the scenes with Sanderson and Hilden that introduced a more vulnerable side to Becky. Hilden portrayed the teenage experience beautifully by exuding a youthful innocence and excitement for life. As a mother of two teenage daughters, Sanderson and Hilden’s interactions felt authentic and realistic – the two navigating the treacherous waters of growing up and letting go.
Hanson gave a phenomenal performance, and he and Sanderson had wonderful chemistry with each other. Hanson portrayed his character’s dilemmas in a genuine manner which brought a sense of grounding and moral compass to the story. While Hanson’s performance seemed effortless, it was layered with depth and talent that is not all too common.
Design
Of the several productions I’ve seen at PYGmalion Productions, this was one of the most unique; particularly with the technical aspects. Set design by Syd Shoell was minimal, yet effective with white tape and a few props on the stage indicating the various places where the scene is taking place. This design is not one that I’ve seen often and allowed the actors to easily move from one scene to the next. I particularly enjoyed the decision to have Fueston write with chalk Becky’s visitors log on the stage floor. The way he described her final visitor was hilarious. Light Design by Kai Sadowski was perfectly executed and I loved the choice to use a variety of bold colors throughout. Live Sound Effects and Design by McKell Petersen was a wonderful addition to the performance as well. It was so expertly executed that I nearly missed that it was happening live on stage. It blended so well into the rest of the performance.
Reflection
While I found the performance to be strong and impactful, I did leave the theatre with a few thoughts. First, I was grateful for the large screen that informed the audience where the characters were. I think I would have been a bit lost without that clarification. Second, I had to wonder if Becky’s storyline had a few too many layers: the loss of her job, the love affair with Bob, battling an addiction to pain medication and so on. While I can appreciate that life is certainly multi-faceted, I felt like the script could be reviewed for the sake of simplicity.
PYGmalion Productions’ Becky Nurse of Salem is a witty and bold story that is thought-provoking and allows one to consider the lasting effects of the unjust treatment of women. It is a reminder of the impossible standards placed upon the shoulders of women – with being too loud or too quiet at the forefront. It is a story that forces its audience to live with harsh realities of the past and a reminder that not enough progress has been made even still. With strong language and mature themes throughout, this timely and important production is for audience members ages 18+.
MORE INFO: Becky Nurse of Salem plays through February 21, Thursdays–Sundays at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center (138 West 300 South, Salt Lake City). Showtimes vary. Ticket prices begin at $21.50. For more information, visit https://www.saltlakecountyarts.org.