FALSE WITNESS HAS NOT CHANGED
An ear-splitting blast from a punk-rock band opens this thought-provoking glimpse into an ancient event. Playwrights Ellice Stevens and Billy Barrett pieced together actual court manuscripts from a 1612 Roman trial of rape, adding contemporary dialogue and raucous music to intensify the content.
Maggie Mason, Keiko Shimosato Carreiro, Alicia M. P. Nelson, and Emily Anderson
There is no Renaissance staging at the Marin Theatre’s intimate Sali Lieberman Stage, just the irony of the courtroom arch reading “La Legge e Ugale Per Tutti” (“The law is equal for all”). In the seventeenth century, as now, this is merely aspiration. It’s True, It’s True, It’s True proves to be an impossible undertaking of justice.
Director Rebecca Wear pushes four actors into multiple roles and outlandish changes of punk attire (costumes by Pamela Rodriguez-Montero). Emily Anderson, Maggie Mason, Keiko Shimosato Carreiro and Alicia M. P. Nelson rapidly switch roles from the accused to the victim, from judge to witnesses. At times the lengthy Italian names of the characters are difficult to track, much like a Shakespeare cast can be confusing.
In the reenactment of the trial, Agostino Tassi (Mason) is a famous and well-connected painter who forcefully deflowers his art student Artemisia Gentileschi (Anderson). He promises to save her reputation by marrying her, but does not. Artemisia takes him to court, where the judge calls on witnesses.
The motivations of envious neighbors and acquaintances are suspect, and their assumptions are unsubstantiated. Two in particular are peeping toms who lust after Artemisia as she bathes half naked in a stream. Their commedia dell’arte masks bring a hilarious highlight to this short and serious drama.
When Tassi, the accused, comes before the judge, his conflicting story proves fanciful and shaky. Despite this, the accused’s power and his connections to the Pope overwhelm Artemisia’s protestations. She recounts her experience and appeals to the audience (akin to the jury) that “It’s true. It’s true. It’s true.” She is put to thumbscrews as torture to exact the truth, while her accused has only to watch and wait.
Art in the 1600s typically depicted females in reclining, inviting poses, often alluringly clothed or undressed. The famous artists of the time were male. After the trial, Artemisia created a landmark painting depicting a female resisting when approached by a predator. Artemisia channeled her rage and took her revenge through her oil paintings. This early feminist shocked the Baroque art world, and influenced the works of generations of artists that followed.
It’s True, It’s True, It’s True has one’s head shaking at the judicial outcome: 1612 justice buried its decision in power and influence, not truth. Some might sadly realize that little has changed in the news or courtroom today.
photos by David Allen
It’s True, It’s True, It’s True
Marin Theatre, 397 Miller Avenue in Mill Valley
Wed-Fri at 7:30; Sat at 2 & 7:30; Sun at 2; Tues at 1 (Feb 27)
ends on May 4, 2025
for tickets ($10-$81, plus fees), call 415.388.5208 or visit Marin Theatre
Cari Lynn Pace is a voting member of the San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle.
