It Takes a Village Nurse

The Killing of Sister George, by playwright Frank Marcus, is a parody of social attitudes toward lesbianism that was misread and taken seriously in its 1964 debut. The play follows June Buckridge, who stars in a radio series as a benevolent village nurse — a sort of Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. But off the airwaves, in real life, Buckridge is a hyperbutch, gin-swilling brute who physically abuses her meek, younger “living companion,” Alice. Buckridge flies off the handle when she learns that her radio character is about to be killed off, so a studio exec with ulterior motives weasels into the couple’s home life. Because of its day, the play only hinted at “deviant” sexual orientations. The playwright intended the couple as a farce of lesbian stereotypes, but — in a Springtime for Hitler-style twist — audiences took it at face value.

Related Content

• Bizarre Kony 2012 Posters Seemingly Contain No Trace of Irony
  April 24, 2012
• Mark Oxner Releases New Ad; Alan Grayson Calls It "a Heaping Helping of Bonkers"; It Is
  April 4, 2012
• "Captain America" Ignores Its Roots for Easy Money
  July 21, 2011
• Allen West Hosting "Controversial" Screening of Movie About Scary Muslims
  September 7, 2011
• Congressman Allen West Not Getting Any Less Crazy
  April 25, 2011

More About

• Frank Marcus
• Adolf Hitler
• Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman
• Theater
• Arts, Entertainment, and Media

Like this Story?

Sign up for the Events Newsletter: What's happening in town? From underground club nights to the biggest outdoor festivals, our top picks for the week's best events will always keep you in on the action.

Privacy Policy Cancel Continue

This strange, subversive, and historic play is showing at Rising Action Theatre (1480 SW Ninth Ave., Fort Lauderdale) at 8 p.m. Friday and runs through February 13. Tickets cost $29.95. Call 954-561-2225, or visit risingactiontheatre.com.
Thursdays-Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 7 p.m. Starts: Jan. 14. Continues through Feb. 13, 2011