Cult play '5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche' becomes an unhinged immersive experience in L.A.

"Anxieties due to war. A culture inhospitable to LGBTQ+ communities. And an underpinning of loneliness and suppressed yearning. The play "5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche" is set in 1956, but its themes resonate in 2026. The United States is at war. Attacks on gay marriage and other LGBTQ+ rights remain a cornerstone of today's conservative movement."

"When I arrived at the back room of a Glendale church, I was given a new name. It was clear that "Todd" was not welcome here. "Joan" turned out to be a suitable replacement, and I was immediately asked how my life had been since my husband had died. For on this night I would no longer be occupying the role of a straight white male."

"Pattullo's vision for "5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche" ramps up the interactivity, seeking to transform a largely traditional proscenium show, albeit one with a few moments of fourth-wall breaking, into one that is centered around audience participation. Staged in a flex space without [traditional staging]."

"5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche" is a cult favorite play originally created in 2011 that has been reimagined as an immersive production in Glendale. Set in 1956, the play addresses contemporary issues including war, attacks on LGBTQ+ rights, and social isolation. The narrative follows a morning gathering that transforms into a Cold War bomb shelter scenario after nuclear threat. The new production, directed by Marissa Pattullo and presented by New Forms LA, significantly increases audience participation by assigning each attendee a widow persona and incorporating ad-libbed interactions. The show blends metaphor, absurdity, and serious themes while moving away from traditional proscenium staging toward an interactive flex space experience centered on audience engagement.

Read at Los Angeles Times