O’Malley Steuerman as Queen Isabel & Amanda Tudor as Sofonisba Anguissola. Photo by DJ Corey Photography.
“Sofonisba” by Callie Kimball was first produced at Theatre at Monmouth in 2022 and was written on a grant from the Ludwig Vogelstein Foundation. Directed by Deidra LaWan Starnes at Washington Stage Guild (WSG), it is both rousingly funny and heartfelt. “Sofonisba” is an excellent production—delightful, entertaining, and moving.
…delightful, entertaining, and moving…The stellar cast played off of each other perfectly, creating a beautiful tapestry of tension, humor, and emotional drama.
There many talented performers in this show. O’Malley Steuerman’s interpretation of Queen Isabel, a queen turning from a child into a young woman, was heartbreaking in its simplicity and depth. The mastery of Steuerman’s performance cannot be overstated, as the relationship between Queen Isabel and the titular Sofonisba was the emotional core of the show. Steuerman’s Isabel oscillated between child-like infatuation with Sofonisba and frustration at the wall built between Queen Isabel and Sofonisba by their respective stations, as well as by Sofonisba’s reserve and singular focus on painting.
Amanda Tudor, who played the titular role in her WSG debut, elegantly portrayed the anger and despair of a woman who wishes only to be a “bride of her work” but is forced by the King and the traditions of the time to marry. Tudor brought a surprising lightness to the role. It allowed the imagined conversations Sofonisba had with her deceased mother to breathe, inviting the audience into her tightly-guarded, interior world.
Peter Boyer showed remarkable range in this show, playing three separate characters, perhaps the most notable of which was Fool. Boyer show-cased his adaptability and effortless humor in this role, his recounting of the story of a cursed king and a beautiful witch was one of the highlights of what was an engaging performance. Gabriel Alejandro at first appeared sparsely in the show as King Philip II, however, his deep embodiment of grief after the death of his wife and his confrontation with Sofonisba was captivating and intense. His return as Orazio towards the end of the play showcased his effortless charm and strong faculties as a potential romantic interest for Sofonisba. The stellar cast played off of each other perfectly, creating a beautiful tapestry of tension, humor, and emotional drama.
Deidra LaWan Starnes is having an amazing season, from her production of “hang” at 1st Stage, to this rollocking success with Washington Stage Guild. It doesn’t seem that there is much that Starnes cannot do. “Sofonisba” made great use of the space, creating a three-dimensional piece of theatre. The set, designed by Megan Holden, was minimal but perfectly detailed. Costume Designer Elizabeth Morton also clearly put great forethought into the finer details, creating period-appropriate costumes in which the performers could still move and be lively. Lighting Designer Marianne Meadows did an excellent job lighting each scene, and Sound Designer Thom J. Woodward perfectly captured the soundscape of the play.
“Sofonisba” was a wildly entertaining piece of theatre that managed to move the audience to emotional depths. Surprisingly comedic, yet not sacrificing themes for levity, “Sofonisba” is bound to provoke discussions and revitalize our understanding of artists in the Renaissance.
Running time: Two hours with a 10-minute intermission.
“Sofonisba” runs through May 4, 2025 at Washington Stage Guild, 900 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001. For more information and to purchase tickets, call the Box Office at (202)900-8788, go online, or visit the box office prior to the performance.
