“The Lady Demands Satisfaction” Brings Swords and British Farce to the Stage

[un]qualified theatre, which brought its delightful adaptation of H. G. Wells’s The Invisible Man to the 2023 Minnesota Fringe Festival, has returned to the stage with a limited-run production of Arthur M. Jolly’s The Lady Demands Satisfaction. October 18–20 is the show’s second and final weekend, and I’d highly recommend a trip to Dinkytown to see it.

Disclaimer: I am a theater professional in the Twin Cities. I’ve been active as an actor, playwright, director, and producer for over a decade. As such, my reviews will have a bias toward supporting and loving these shows. At the end of the day, live theater is both very important and very amazing, and you should see some.

Tilly (Kelly Solberg) and Lady Theodosia (Amanda Espinoza) square off in The Lady Demands Satisfaction. Photo by Molly Weibel Ulring | 1000 Words Photography

[un]qualified theatre is a newer addition to the Twin Cities community—The Lady Demands Satisfaction is the company’s second production. They’ve brought the enthusiasm and fun to the stage as they did with their Fringe entry; at every moment you can tell the cast is having a great time onstage, and the energy levels stays high throughout.

The plot is a very British farce: A newly orphaned heiress, Trothe (Nadya Dominique), must work a plan to hold on to her estate, and machinations ensue. Duels and swordsmanship dominate the plot, as Trothe must defend her inheritance in a fight. Over the course of the play, her confidante, sword master, and aunt, Lady Theodosia (Amanda Espinoza), trains her; the stumbling Lord Abernathy (Kjer Whiting) “guides” her; and servants Tilly (Kelly Solberg) and Penelope (Kari Heistad) connive and cross-dress—all whilst Prussian master swordsman Luitger (R. Merit Burgett) and foppish poet Osric (Max Alexander) vie for her hand in marriage. It’s full of the kind of shenanigans you’d expect from a classic BBC or Channel 4 period comedy, sure thing to delight any geeks who love Jeeves and Wooster or Black Adder, but with a decidedly more feminist take.

Heistad and Solberg as Penelope and Tilly really gel together as the only “common folk” characters among a bunch of less than intelligent gentry, providing the delightful comedic anchor for the over-the-top high jinks. Espinoza as Theodosia has a stage presence almost too regal for such a silly play but toes the line elegantly, providing a good contrast to the absurd while still nailing comedic beats. All of this is tied together with some bits of onstage violence and swordplay, ramping up the physicality of the production.

Penelope (Kari Heistad) and Tilly (Kelly Solberg) ponder their plight Photo Molly Weibel Ulring | 1000 Words Photography

If there is anything not up to the quality of the cast and crew of this production, it would be the venue, which is a small common-room stage of the University Baptist Church in the dead center of Dinkytown (be sure to give yourself extra time to find parking). Though no fault of the company, the venue has less than great acoustics and lacks the lighting required for a truly immersive theater experience—I can’t help but think how much more fantastic this show would be in a more fitting space. I do understand finding a venue can be quite a challenge, and the [un]qualified cast and crew deserve kudos for making the best possible production in such a space.

A big upside of this production is that tickets are very affordable ($10–$17), making them accessible for folks on almost any budget. This would be a great night out for anyone who appreciates comedic theater with plenty of charm and physical comedy.

The Lady Demands Satisfaction has three shows remaining, on October 18, 19, and 20, 2024. Get your tickets and support live theater!

Luitger (K. Merit Burgett), Penelope (Kari Heistad), Lady Theodosia (Amanda Espinoza), and Trothe (Nadya Dominique) examine what they’ve found. Photo Molly Weibel Ulring | 1000 Words Photography