(L to R) Brenna Horner as Cathy, Rose Hahn as Anne, Leah Ly as Emily, and Aubri O’Connor as Charlotte Photo by Alan Kayanan.
When we think of Charlotte, Emily, and almost-forgotten Anne Brontë, words like “historical gravitas” and “introverted” come to mind. Party animals? Never! So the idea that these three, secluded Victorian women would host a house party night after night in their childhood home, now located in Purgatory, seems outrageous yet intriguing. In Nu Sass Productions’ presentation of “Brontë Sister House Party,” the audience is invited to join the celebration with the hopes that, this time around, they will break the Lavender Witch’s spell and reach “The Point of Celebrated Reverence.”
…I enjoyed this ‘party’ more than many of my earth-bound soirees.
In Courtney Bailey’s offbeat, but easy-to-watch play directed by Kathleen Barth, the sisters and feisty brother, Branwell (Ty Edwards), are stuck in a time warp sometime in their afterlife. It’s difficult to pinpoint the exact years of Purgatory, but it’s definitely contemporary. The task they must complete is to reach the highest level a party can attain and, once achieved, they will be released from this punishment.
Emily (Leah Ly) seems to want out of her current situation as she struggles with her distrust of men. Her T-shirt berates men, real and fictional. She has a special affection for women, especially Cathy, the character she created in Wuthering Heights, who shows up at every party. Brenna Horner is superb as this vixen whom we want to love/hate. She steals the show with her hand mic and sexy gown and leads the audience in a party song. As the actors kept filling our glasses for the expected toasts, I felt I was in the best place for a hot, August Sunday afternoon. My guess is that it would be just as special during mid-winter.
It’s not clear exactly where the Brontë sisters are hanging out for what may be eternity. While Purgatory is not hell, the scenes from “Hadestown” kept popping up in my mind, except there was no physical suffering and no turning to stone. They are just hosting a party every night, already over a thousand according to one sister—probably Emily who scrunches her face whenever puzzled or disappointed by her siblings. Ly is superb at nastiness and her contemporary black jeans and T-shirt costume by Lanae Sterrett reflects Gen Z’s indifference towards parties and falsehood.
Charlotte (Aubri O’Connor) has doubts about reaching “Celebrated Reverence,” mainly because she doesn’t want to miss her professor who has promised to arrive at the party with a bouquet of roses. So far, he has never set foot in their living room which is decorated with colorful ribbons and “Happy Birthday” banners and pillows to toss around. Kudos to Set Designer Maggie Troutman, props design /set dressing by Roo Sultan, and Lighting/Projections Designer Heather Rody for creating a warm, welcoming stage set in the middle of a two-story office space. The audience sofas were another nice touch.
Sadly for Charlotte, it’s brother Branwell who shows up with a bouquet of roses and the bickering begins. He is unaware of his sisters’ success because their books have been published under male names. When he learns they authored three books (financed by the girls with no help from father), he rages and shouts out poetry while slurping whiskey. The most physical sister, Anne (Rose Hahn) is hilarious as she fights with her brother and soon, it’s a messy free-for-all. She survives!
By the second act, two new women have joined the party. Kate Bush (Madeline Marie) jumps through a window and immediately sings the British singer’s 1978 anthem, “Wuthering Heights.” Soon she is rocking with the Brontë sisters, all bopping around to the “best party song” which is chosen by Alexa. Yes, technology has reached Purgatory.
Helen Burns (Alyssa Nolan) from Emily’s Jane Eyre is not happy with her character, especially her early demise. Still, all is forgiven as Helen, Cathy, and the three sisters perform the rap song that helps upgrade the party—and we raise our glasses high to show our appreciation.
While it looks like nothing will be resolved, and the party dims with Branwell’s rant about hating all the women who loved him. He was my least favorite character in this otherwise all-female cast. For the record, I enjoyed this ‘party’ more than many of my earth-bound soirees. My only issue was that Alexa never revealed what the “best party song” was. My guess is Brittany Spears. I suppose I’ll have to return to find out. I would like that very much, and this time, I will toss my cane, put on some dancing shoes, and sequins, just like the house manager who was adorned with silver sparkles.
Running Time: Two hours and 20 minutes, including one 10-minute intermission.
Advisory: Adult language, depictions of drinking and drunkenness, and domestic violence.
“Brontë Sister House Party” runs through September 12, 2026 presented by Nu Sass Productions, Van Ness Main Street, 4340 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC. For more information and to purchase tickets, please go online.
