By AJ Jaffari
What happens when four women from history are given the chance to rewrite their own revolution? The Revolutionists at Los Altos Stage Company takes the turbulence of the French Revolution and filters it through the distinctly modern voice of playwright Lauren Gunderson. Historical figures collide with contemporary humor, sharp dialogue, and plenty of theatrical self-awareness, creating a piece that feels intentionally caught between centuries. Rather than offering a straightforward history lesson, the play asks what happens when women who have been reduced to footnotes are finally given the space to control their own narratives.
At its center is playwright Olympe de Gouges, who finds herself surrounded by abolitionist Marianne Angelle, assassin Charlotte Corday, and the infamous Marie Antoinette as each woman searches for the right words—and perhaps the courage—to leave something meaningful behind. What begins as a witty and often ridiculous comedy gradually reveals much higher stakes, ultimately becoming a story about friendship, legacy, sacrifice, and whose voices history chooses to remember.
Overall, I enjoyed this one. I found the juxtaposition of a classic historical tale with modern language and sensibilities interesting. The dialogue was easy to follow and felt unmistakably Lauren Gunderson—quick, clever, and very aware of itself. With only four performers carrying the piece, there isn’t much room for the energy to falter, yet the production maintained a tight pace and flowed nicely throughout.
What struck me most was the tonal journey. As the play itself acknowledges, this really does begin as a comedy and end as a drama. The humor makes these historical figures feel approachable before the story gradually reminds us of the very real consequences awaiting them. By the final stretch, the women we’ve spent the evening laughing with suddenly feel much more human, making the shift surprisingly effective.
Brittney Mignano was funny and endearing as Olympe, creating an incredibly likable character at the center of the story. She found several opportunities to embellish Olympe’s personality without ever pushing too far, bringing a warmth to the role that made it easy to follow her through the increasingly complicated world around her.
Nique Eagen brought a grounded strength to Marianne and was equally easy to root for. She gave the character a clear sense of purpose that helped balance some of the more heightened personalities sharing the stage.
April Culver was another major standout for me as Charlotte. I don’t believe I’ve seen her perform before, but she certainly made an impression here. From the moment she entered, Culver brought an incredibly strong energy to the stage and sustained it throughout the entire performance. She embraced Charlotte’s intensity while still finding plenty of humor within her, making her a consistently engaging presence.
And Christina Bolognini was wonderfully charming as Marie Antoinette. She knew exactly how to heighten the comedy within the dialogue, and I especially loved her commitment to the recurring ribbon bit. Bolognini leaned into Marie’s extravagance without allowing her to become completely one-note, which became increasingly important as the play moved toward its more dramatic conclusion.
Together, the four created a wonderfully balanced company, each bringing a distinctly different energy to the room while maintaining the chemistry needed to make this intimate piece work.
Directors Roneet Aliza Rahamim and Gary Landis kept the production moving at a strong pace while embracing the modern touches woven throughout Gunderson’s script. With a show this dialogue-heavy, rhythm is everything, and I appreciated how naturally the conversations moved between comedy, absurdity, and eventually something much more serious.
Camryn Lang’s scenic design was another element I enjoyed. The rustic quality of the environment suited the historical world while the moving components gave the production some welcome visual transformation. Particularly during the more stationary opening portions of the play, those shifts helped break up the space and allowed the world around these four women to evolve alongside the story.
The Revolutionists ultimately succeeds in making history feel approachable without ignoring its darker realities. What begins with laughs, ribbons, and four wildly different women attempting to write their way through a revolution eventually becomes something far more poignant. Los Altos Stage Company has assembled a strong quartet of performers who make that transition worth following, and if you enjoy history served with a healthy dose of modern wit, this one is certainly worth checking out.
Leave a Reply