Saint Sebastian Players Presents thoughtful drama TRANSIT OF VENUS Review

TRANSIT OF VENUS is a Period Drama

The story is simple. A man has a yen for traveling and discovery. However, he also wants to marry a young woman. Instead of focusing on his journey, the story focuses on the agonizing wait the woman endures. Each act takes place multiple years since the previous one. Each intermission - there are two - represents a journey and a waiting period.

The play revolves around the passage of time. Long conversations in one room are often accompanied by other characters in different areas of the set going about their lives as the conversation happens. Time is constantly moving and so are their lives.

Each intermission continues this portrayal of time movement. The actors do business on the stage to mimic the passage of time that the intermission represents. It is a unique experience to quietly observe.

Saint Sebastian Players Creates Gorgeous Set and Use of Space

The set, designed by Emil Zbella, makes elegant use of the depth of the stage. The observatory is set far away from the audience giving it a dreamy feel, while the living areas where the “every day” actions take place are directly in front. Zbella’s talent has skillfully transformed a church basement into an elegant and classy estate.