←Recommendations of The Female Gaze

There are so many lines I love in this short play about how women are punished no matter what they do. Using Greek mythology to explore how, as the Barbie movie states, it is literally impossible to be a woman is genius. The title is perfection for a play centering Medusa, and I want a sequel about the island commune. Fantastic.

"It’s a comfort to exist without being seen."

What a MOOD, especially in this social-media-saturated world! I am a HUGE fan of this feminist revision of not one but two Greek myths in which women are punished—one for wanting, the other for not wanting. The dialogue is sharp, funny, and full of lovely, relatable gems like the one quoted above. I love the blend of the contemporary and ancient language and syntax, which really differentiated the character voices and helped keep these women distinct. A gorgeous, atmospheric short with brilliant opportunities for theatricality and a lot to say!

I really enjoy this little play, a nice "twist" and deep dive into a bit of classic mythology. A comedic (as opposed to comic) re-examination of legend through a lens hinting maybe, just maybe misogyny really is a thing (btw oh yes it is) and was back then. That we are perhaps in some ways wiser. I think that is a good thing.

"Not all men." Certainly. "But somehow, ALWAYS a man."

The phrase comes to mind.

Blevins is always top notch, but she has outdone herself here. This play is pure fire, retelling, remixing, and bringing out new points of view on classic myths. Medusa, in particular, has undergone a radical transformation in recent years, but the exploration done here is perhaps the greatest I've encountered. This is a gorgeous study of agency, identity, and what it truly feels like to be objectified and transformed into something you never wanted to be. Something women unfortunately still encounter every goddamn day.

If you liked Madeline Miller's novel CIRCE, you're going to lose your mind over Jillian Blevin's THE FEMALE GAZE. Reframing Medusa and Metope's stories through a feminist lens, Blevins calls out some enraging bullshit, uncovers new insights, and delivers a remarkably moving and redemptive story with immense humor and grace. (Bonus credit for the challenge of presenting Medusa's hair, which here is effectively a supporting character.) Great characters, sharp and witty dialogue, and small, telling gestures make this a winner. Lovely.

Jillian Blevins corrects the record.
The myth of Medusa has always been problematic (a fancy word for misogynistic), but in THE FEMALE GAZE, Blevins gives Medusa (and Metope, from another myth) their due. The dialogue is crisp and the staging is ingenious. This is a great and necessary updating of a classic Greek myth, one that makes the story of Medusa and Metope relevant not just to our time, but to all time.
Bravo!

A marvelous short work. Jillian Blevins aims "The Female Gaze" at the plight of one famous mythical woman scorned -- and one lesser known one -- to question the arbitrary cruelty directed at women not because of their actions but because of who they are. I love both how transportive and how modern this play feels, effortlessly navigating the fantastical and the divine with only occasional, though memorable anachronism ("Deus ex whatever").

"it's a comfort to exist without being seen." this line represents so much about the world women are living in, and there's nothing i love more than a play about women healing. blevins' play "the female gaze" expertly illustrates the bonds that form between women who want nothing but to take their power back and eat some fruit in peace.

Mythology is rarely kind to women. The best myths are layered with some lesson about the world we live in. Here, Jillian Blevins masterfully blends the curses of petulant gods with the grief of all too familiar wrongs. This play is a brilliant renewal of purpose for characters often relegated to their own misery. A dynamic play with wondrous tones of empathy for victims.