Holly Hughes’ The Well of Horniness is a lesbian film-noir fantasia, an erotic dream staged in the style of a 1940s detective radio show, whose protagonist Vicky re-experiences her temptations despite her professed intention to “go straight.”
This play was presented as part of a collection of protest plays: Sticking it to the Man: 3 plays that pushed back. The other two were Los Vendidos by Luis Valdez and Dutchman by Amiri Baraka. Each of the three plays are tied to a specific community (Chicano, African American, and LGBTQ) and were first performed in a time of crisis for that community. Performance artist Holly Hughes was one of the “NEA four,” who successfully sued the US government for restitution of their National Endowment of the Arts grants that had been pulled for questionable political reasons.
Traditionally performed by an all-woman cast, The Well of Horniness featured two guest actor/directors based in LA, Paris Benjamin (who also directed Los Vendidos) and Michael Taylor Gray (who also directed Dutchman) appearing in 1940s drag as the Narrator.
The production of these three plays together was intended to expose students to working on multiple levels with successful professionals. Engaging guest artists to both direct and work alongside students as fellow actors yielded an especially positive learning experience.
Credits: Scenic Design by Krista Franco, Lighting by John Kiselica, Costumes by AJ Garcia, Sound by Christian Christensen. Stetson University, November 2017.