Anya Kai, reporting
In the world of theater, few genres are as potent and provocative as horror. It is a genre that confronts us with our deepest fears, forcing us to grapple with the uncomfortable and the unknown. This is the artistic territory that playwright Abigail Duclos fearlessly explores in her new play, Blood Orange, presented by Et Alia Theater at the A.R.T./New York Theatres.
Duclos, a multifaceted NYC-based artist, brings a unique perspective to her work, blending playwriting with acting and puppet design. A recent graduate of Barnard College of Columbia University, where she studied playwriting, acting, and German literature, Duclos’s artistic voice is distinctly her own. Her work, often multidisciplinary in nature, draws on a love for contemporary dance and jazz music, promising a theatrical experience that is both visceral and intellectual.
In a conversation about her craft, Duclos reveals a profound connection to the horror genre. “I have always felt like horror is one of the most vulnerable forms of art,” she explains. “To describe your deepest fear to someone else is a beautifully exposed act, one that is emotionally and dramatically thrilling.” For Duclos, horror is not just about scaring an audience; it is a way to explore the complex, and often terrifying, elements of humanity. “Writing tormented, foreboding, and salacious material helps me better understand and wrestle with the complex, oftentimes horrifying elements of humanity that exist within myself, within you, and with all people.”
This philosophy is at the heart of Blood Orange. The play tells the story of Faye, a teenage girl who, after the traumatic discovery of her father’s body, feels abandoned by both God and her mother. In her grief and isolation, she finds salvation in a nightmarish roadkill creature, drawing her friend, Eden, into a strange new religion filled with prayer, blood, and burgeoning love. The play delves into the complexities of modern teenage girlhood and sexuality, posing a powerful question: “how do young women navigate a culture that hypersexualizes them while demonizing their desires?” The play also explores the unsettling intersection of pleasure and pain, a central theme in Duclos’s work.
Blood Orange is a dark drama, but it is not without its moments of comedy, love, and genuine connection. Duclos’s plays, whether they are about girls worshipping roadkill or friends navigating a violent attack, always “skew dark,” but they are ultimately about “bringing light to the sides of us all that we would, sometimes, rather not see.”
The play features a talented cast, with Luísa Galatti, Ana Moioli, Maria Müller, and Giorgia Valenti sharing the roles of Faye, Eden, and Georgia. Directed by Vernice Miller with Amelia Estrada as associate director/choreographer, the production also boasts a strong design team, with scenic and property design by Ningning Yang, costumes by Whitney Fabre, and lighting by Hayley Garcia Parnell.
For Duclos, Blood Orange is a significant milestone. “This production by Et Alia is also the first full production any of my plays have ever received,” she shares. The process has reaffirmed her love for collaboration and exploration, a testament to the power of a supportive creative community.
When asked what she wants the audience to take away from the show, Duclos, along with Et Alia Theater, offers a playful yet profound response: “We want them to have an experience and leave differently than how they came in. We hope they want to talk about the show on the way back home. We hope they feel for our characters and see them beyond their masks.”
Blood Orange is a limited engagement at the Jeffrey & Paula Gural Theatre of A.R.T./New York, with previews beginning on September 11, and a run from September 13 to September 27. The play, which runs for approximately 90 minutes with no intermission, contains a content warning for explicit scenes of violence and self-harm. For those brave enough to confront the unsettling parts of humanity, Blood Orange promises to be a powerful and unforgettable theatrical experience.
ARTIUM: OMNI 