←Recommendations of CONTRAPPOSTO

A very clever, witty piece that looks at how centuries of art have influenced our view of gender roles. The anachronistic banter between Botticelli and Venus is lively and provides laughs and insight in equal measure. Sure to be a delight on stage.

With sharp and witty dialogue, CONTRAPPOSTO encapsulates centuries of women’s struggles for equality. Humor with a sword of truth runs through every line in this unique “portrait” of the struggle not only of Venus’ but of all women to be viewed as strong and powerful. Quick-paced, snappy, and thoroughly engaging.

Carnes has crafted an amazing piece that deftly redefines Botticelli’s famed subject, not as a silent object of desire, but as a vibrant, empowered woman pushing back against the constraints of her era. Look no further for a scintillating dive into art history and gender politics! Super fun - I'm sure it'd be an absolute joy to see on stage.

I love the concept of this play! It’s the perfect blend of art history, feminism and humor.

Oh, how I wish this were true! Poor Sandro as he tries to paint the goddess of love when all she is doing is arguing for rights he has no idea of, and that are way after his time! After reading this, I spent time looking at the painting. Yes, that is an odd pose on one foot. It's a brilliant short play which would be great fun to stage!

This play hits all the right notes for me -- art, mythology, history, feminism? YES! I love it! It's a fun spoof on conventions in the Renaissance and the women who modeled for all these male painters. I would love to see this on stage! It's truly awesome!

When artist and model clash creative tension takes on a whole new meaning in Carnes’s witty, bawdy yet heartfelt piece. This duologue cleverly takes one of the Renaissance’s best known paintings, turning its passive mythological female figure into a feisty woman in her prime fighting against the artist’s male gaze. With two characters, whose reputations precede them, struggling for control, these are glorious roles demanding passion, guile and precise comic timing and a director who can fully draw out Carnes’s dramatic embodiment of art history combined with the eternal political and sexual battle of the sexes.

Such a phenomenal, funny, and powerful short piece about the male gaze! It's a hard balance to strike--to make you think as well as make you laugh. "What's a museum?" had me in STITCHES. It takes an incredibly creative and empathetic mind to look at such an iconic painting and ask how the woman being painted might've felt--and Carnes executed that idea with care and aplomb. Gorgeous.

"I'm gonna just pay you for the week and you can go" This had me laughing out loud. When a woman demands to be acknowledged beyond her appearance, it seems men just would rather give them something to leave/stop talking. Such a funny look at this subject through the eyes of the very SUBJECT of objectivism. A creatively executed piece!

The frustrations of sexism were behind the scenes of our most beloved paintings and sculptures. Hilarious and very fun!