‘Venus’ @ Kitchen Dog Theater
—Martha Heimberg
Opposites attract, attack, and atomize each other in Steve Yockey’s riveting 90-minute Venus, a witty and visceral two-hander about the end of a brief relationship — and a National New Play Network rolling world premiere at Kitchen Dog Theater. The dynamics of this romantic disaster require actors with instant charisma and acrobatic emotional agility, and this production delivers in spades. Wait. Make that hearts.
KDT Co-Artistic Director Tina Parker is hilarious and rowdy as Beth, an earthy urban cowgirl who spots a woman she likes and goes for game point with her opening gambit. Kitchen Dog founding member Sally Vahle is the comically fastidious librarian Nicole, who shrinks at Beth’s determined desire to get this shy violet into her gold Mercedes and out under the stars.
Okay, the car and the stars do elicit a tight smile from Nicole, who then retreats back into her super-tidy house, leaving eager Beth’s increasingly frequent texts unanswered. And stop sending flowers, for fuck’s sake. (Even an uptight librarian needs to let off a little verbal steam, occasionally.)
Director Christie Vela stages the play in the round, so the audience watches the two women up close and personal, as they confront and ultimately console each other on an otherwise empty circular platform. Round and round they go, recalling who did what when to start this affair and bring about the chaotic end times we’re witnessing. This cozy configuration also permits us to see people on the other side of the squared circle laugh or gasp along with us, which works wonderfully here.
The charm of Yockey’s tight script lies in its chatty, convincing dialogue and concretely imagined metaphors. Burying your fears psychologically is one thing. Burying an old lover alive in quite another — or maybe not. After all, we’re just being told stories by two women: Nicole is maybe clinically insane, and Beth is a classic jokester with an exhausting need to be liked by all. Either one can bring the other to her knees — or flat on her back. And what’s that black eye about? The situation is so tense, a gal may have to laugh to keep from screaming. Might work.
In the course of the evening, the literary Nicole holds forth on her delight in the lovely green haze of planet Venus, while amateur astronomer Beth explains the pretty effect is actually fumes from deadly sulfuric acid, emitting from the planet’s gaseous surface. Over and again, Yockey reveals how our subjectivity changes perceived realties. Before the night is done, we come to recognize (in the plight of these lonely women) the very real challenges facing anybody trying to meet and connect with somebody else — and perhaps get a shot at a happy ending. Sigh.
Aaron Johansen’s inspired lighting design fills the house with fantastic chandeliers and lamps that glow or darken as the characters’ emotions wax and wane; John Flores’ subtle sound design conjures everything from eerie echoing laughter to soothing planetary vibes. Director Vela also designed the telling costumes.
Tremendously evocative ensemble work. Masterful actors. Get your tix and get on over to KDT’s new handsome theater in the Design District down by the river. Totally worth the trip!
WHEN: June 4-28, 2026
WHERE: 4774 Algiers St., Dallas (Trinity River Design District)
WEB: kitchendogtheater.org
