The Secretaries

Northampton, MA – The Smith College Department of Theatre presents The Secretaries by The Five Lesbian Brothers on October 28, 29, 30, and 31 at 7:30 p.m. in Hallie Flanagan Studio Theatre. Set in and around the Cooney Lumber Mill in the early 1990s, the story follows a group of secretaries who are caught in a whirlwind of competition, manipulation, and sexual tension. Plus blood and chainsaws. The Secretaries leaves us with one question: How much are we willing to give up about ourselves in order to belong? Tickets are available at smitharts.ludus.com. Free for Smith students by emailing boxoffice@smith.edu. 

The Secretaries is a biting 90s satire following a group of secretaries, where newcomer Patty discovers that not all is what it seems in the Cooney Mill office—from a strange cacophony of clicking amongst the ladies, to bizarre obsessions with Slim-Fast shakes, to the monthly disappearances of lumberjacks. With a sharp wit and a little bit of blood, The Secretaries explores diet culture, internalized homophobia, and how women enforce sexism under a deliciously dark lens.

The Secretaries made its debut in 1993 at the WOW Cafe in New York City, created by comedy troupe The Five Lesbian Brothers—a group of women theatre makers who focus on provocative feminist theatre. The team is composed of members Maureen Angelos, Babs Davy, Dominique Dibbell, Peg Healey, and notably, Lisa Kron, best known for writing the book and score for the groundbreaking musical hit, Fun Home. The Secretaries was featured in The New York Times article “The Plays You Need to Know From the Last 100 Years,” where it was described as “not at all politically correct… There’s tremendous psychological violence the women do to each other in this irreverent, funny, ridiculous play.”

The eight-actor cast is directed by theatre faculty Tara Franklin, who has a personal connection with the show, playing the icy Susan Curtis in a 2009 New York revival. “The most exciting part of directing The Secretaries with this group of students is the challenge it presents, both physically and emotionally,” says Franklin. “As a teacher and a director, I have to make sure that I am giving them time and space to explore all aspects of this piece, realizing what a big ask that is with a play like this.” Franklin describes the importance of creating an environment where the student actors can feel safe in their vulnerability, stressing the significance of finding balance.

Set designer Madeline Zarecor ’28 brings the fictional town of Big Bone to life with a multi-level thrust stage. The hyperfeminine hair and fashion of the 90s are created by costume designer Clare Pachuta ’27 with lighting designer Leila Suess ’27, and sound designer Audrey Moeller ’29 evoking the shifts from comedy to suspense. Charlotte Saunders ’27 is the stage manager.

“The Five Lesbian Brothers wrote The Secretaries not simply as a feminist rant but as a satirical look at what we do with our rage under the unseen hand of the patriarchy and to what lengths we will go to fit in,” director Franklin goes on to say. “Through the absurd lens of this play, with its exaggerated violence, bigger-than-life characters, and wild humor, I’m hoping that the audience can see the bigger picture—the one where they recognize themselves.”

Audiences should know that The Secretaries contains foul language, loud noises, flashing lights, depictions of fatphobia, eating disorders, sexual situations, blood, and violence. Full content warnings are available at boxoffice@smith.edu.