Heidi Schreck's Creature Tickets

Heidi Schreck’s play Creature deals with a serious and weighty subject – the question of who should define our reproductive rights. However, despite the heavy tone of the play, there are comedic elements scattered throughout that help to lighten the mood and keep the audience engaged. In this article, we’ll explore how Schreck uses comedy to enhance the play’s message.

One of the main sources of humor in Creature comes from the character of Margi, played brilliantly by Marinda Anderson. Margi is a pro-choice activist who is fighting against a proposed law that would require women seeking abortions to get permission from their male partners. She is unapologetically outspoken and confrontational, often using biting sarcasm to make her point. In one particularly funny scene, Margi rails against a group of anti-abortion protesters outside an abortion clinic, telling them “If men could get pregnant, abortion would be a sacrament!” Her witty and irreverent remarks provide a much-needed break from the tension of the play, while also highlighting the absurdity of the political landscape surrounding women’s health issues.

Another way the play incorporates comedy is through its use of parody. In one scene, we see a group of senators debating the proposed abortion law, complete with ridiculous arguments and false statistics. The scene is clearly meant to poke fun at the political process and the politicians involved – they’re portrayed as bumbling, disorganized, and out-of-touch. The effect is both entertaining and thought-provoking; it invites us to question the people in power and the decisions they make without being heavy-handed or preachy.

Perhaps the most effective use of comedy in Creature, however, is in its ability to make the serious moments hit even harder. Schreck doesn’t shy away from the emotional devastation that comes with unwanted pregnancy, and the play features several scenes that are heart-wrenchingly sad. But because the play has established a comedic tone earlier on, the tragic moments feel all the more impactful. We’re invested in these characters and their struggles because we’ve laughed with them before; we care about what happens to them because they feel like real people rather than just symbols of a political issue.

In conclusion, while Heidi Schreck’s Creature is certainly not a comedy, it does use humor effectively to enhance its message. The play’s comedic elements serve to highlight the absurdity of the political climate surrounding reproductive health while also providing much-needed levity in an otherwise heavy subject matter. By blending humor with drama, the play invites us to engage with the important questions it poses in a way that is both entertaining and enlightening.