The Apple
Contrary to the last featured subject of our Forbidden Fruit series, this next fruit might be the most recognizable of the bunch. Say hello to The Apple!
Partnered duo playwright Michelle Ruiz Keil and actor Sofía Marks share a little about the eccentric character birthed by the cultural impact of this beloved fruit…
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In 8 words, how would you describe the world of this room?
MRK: Welcome to The Serpent’s School For Wayward Girls!
SM: Once upon a time Eve met Britney Spears.
Did you pick your fruit? What drew you to it?
MRK: I was very excited that the Apple was still available the first time I met with Samantha to talk about this project. I’ve had a long relationship with myths about female sexuality, curiosity and destruction. The Apple, with its connection to Eve and the idea of original sin, was the perfect lens for my exploration of why female curiosity is so threatening to patriarchal power structures.
Where did you begin with building a story? Has your concept transformed over time?
MRK: I started the story with another garden myth—the story of the destruction of the immortality of the Aztec gods by the Goddess Xochiquetzal who picked a forbidden flower from the World Tree in Tamoanchan, one of the Aztec’s thirteen heavens. I’ve been fascinated by this goddess and her stories for years, ever since I learned of her when researching my first novel, All of Us With Wings.
I have also been very drawn to the idea of teenage it-girls and what becomes of them in modern popular culture. Combined, these ideas got me going down the right path.
And finally, when I first met with Samantha and the actor for my piece, Sofía Marks, she mentioned her recent encounter with the work of the Chicana feminist scholar and poet Gloria Anzaldua and her book Borderlands: La Frontera, also an old favorite of mine. When I revisited that work, the Apple’s storyline really started coming together.
SM: During one of my first conversations with Samantha Van Der Merwe and Michelle Keil, we talked about what it was like to be socialized as a girl and how this impacted walking in public. We shared a feeling of vigilance and self-surveillance. We were forced to develop a keen awareness of our bodies, especially at such a young age. The patriarchal sexualization of young girls has become a prevalent theme in the Apple room. Not only has the Apple been a room of playful curiosity, but one of anger and vulnerability. As I embody each character in the play, I am reminded of my own fears, curiosities, and joys. They help me reflect on my girlhood.
Are there texts, tales, or real-world events that have inspired your work on this piece?
MRK: The Apple room explores the experience of the Kore—the ancient Greek word for young girl, an idealized version of youth and beauty. Worldwide, there are many goddesses that embody the Kore archetype. I revisited all the stories of the Kore that I could find—including modern Korai like Britney Spears and Billie Eilish.
These myths and the excellent horror film She Will led me to explore the ideals of my own youth, particularly the career of the actress and model Brooke Shields, who controversially starred in a film where she played a child prostitute and was featured in a series of famously provocative commercials for Calvin Klein jeans. I also explored some of my own experiences with racism and sexual harassment as a young girl.
SM: I admire how this piece draws on real-world events, global mythologies, and lived experiences to unravel a common thread in the expectations of girlhood. We learn from an array of “curious girls:” the Aztec goddess Xochiquetzal, Britney Spears, Brooke Shields, and Biblical Eve. Michelle Keil, our playwright for the Apple room, has brought some cold truths into the play with a smile.
As we begin physically devising and rehearsing, what are you curious about exploring?
SM: I’m curious about all the ways a situation or a phrase can be turned on a dime. One minute pleasant and the next minute threatening. I’m excited by the way my character holds knowledge. Maybe it’s a tool, a weapon, a toy, something light to throw at the audience and something meaningful to withhold.
Without revealing too much, what design elements are you excited for in this room?
MRK: I don’t want to reveal much about the room’s design--which I am incredibly excited about and completely love! I will say that I’ve been blown away watching the Apple Room’s actor, Sofía Marks, embody this role. It is an incredible treat to see my ideas and words brought to life so beautifully. Watching Samantha and Sofía collaborate in creating the role and working with Shaking The Tree’s brilliant team has been a nourishing and transformative experience.
SM: I’m excited for my heart-shaped sunglasses, pink fluffy pencils, and some big shoes to fill.
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Forbidden Fruit runs March 4th - April 1st. Book your tickets here.
~Kai