Sometimes a princess has to save herself... and maybe that should be the norm!
A princess waits for her prince to come. But he’s nowhere to be found. This performance of Shooting Snow White showed why fairy tales need to be deconstructed. Anna Lisa Grebe's performance, which could be classified as physical theatre, portrayed not only the stereotypical perception of female beauty, but also the general pressure on women to assume passive roles in society and relationships. She also showed how the patriarchy imposes itself on the men who seemingly benefit from it.
A woman is waiting for liberation. A woman waits for love, for a prince to whom she will give her heart and to whom she will surrender herself completely. This fascinating and admirable performance reveals the double standard of our society - the innocent girl and the dominant, hedonistic man. It achieves this through original elements, surprises, and changing moods on stage. The actress deserves great admiration for the way she was able to keep her play firmly under control, maintain contact with the audience, and above all, use unconventional elements connected with her own body.
The audience witnessed not only an alternation of different costumes and musical performances, but also the changing atmosphere of the production. The very fact that the performer was at times naked on stage symbolized not only the theme of intimacy in a patriarchal society, but also created an intimate environment in the hall.
However, the performance was not always serious. During the musical passages and during the acting of the male character, the audience was noticeably amused. The final standing ovation clearly showed the admiration this production had generated.
Although many people may believe that the topics associated with feminism, gender stereotyping, and the oppression resulting from the acceptance of stereotypes are already outdated - “after all, women already have equal rights” - with the current rise of conservative movements in the world and in the Czech Republic, it is necessary to keep drawing attention to these issues, perhaps through art. Not only has the theme of the early-life origins of gender stereotypes, which have been instilled in us since childhood, been originally captured, but at the same time, a truly powerful spectacle has been created that deserves all the admiration it can get.
