Penis Envy is A Myth
On “This Is Not A Pipe” by Chicago Danztheatre
What if Sigmund Freud was actually a woman?
What if the analysis of dreams was her last and desperate attempt to shield herself from her own identity confusion as a woman?
To kick start their 2023 season, Chicago Danztheatre brought back one of their most iconic and memorable productions: This Is Not A Pipe.
A stageplay, a musical, and a contemporary dance ensemble, This Is Not A Pipe is everything you would NOT expect from a play spun off Sigmund Frued’s renowned dream theories. Rather, it became a profound exploration of women’s journey to self-acceptance and self-realization. When Dr. Freud put on fake mustaches and a tailored suit, she surrendered herself to the popular culture that considered men superior to women. Throughout the play, we laugh at Dr. Freud’s frugal and abusrd attempt to correlate every symbol to “penis envy” — a woman’s desire to become a man.
Contradictory to the mid-age theatre, where male actors disguised as women to play female characters, This Is Not A Pipe boldly features an all-female crew, playing men throughout two-thirds of the show until they resume their female identity at the climax scene, stripping the pretentious Dr. Freud her mustache, bowtie, suit jacket… forcing her back to her original, natural form.
Nonetheless, don’t mistake This Is Not A Pipe as yet another feminist play. While the plot surrounds female stereotypes, it really is a play about identity in general, which makes this production more meaningful and relevant in today’s landscape.
Furthermore, unlike many other stageplays that explore similar topics, This Is Not A Pipe did not come off as lecturing or angry. Instead, it perfectly captured the random and unreasonable nature of the dream world, creating a delicate balance between reality and fantasy, conscious suppression, and subconscious desires, thanks to the brilliant costume design and brave choreography presented by The Danztheater.
For example, the transition between male and female identity is done in the simplest way: the change of costume. Black hat, tailored suit, walking stick, black umbrella. When Dr. Freud categorized every symbolism brought up by her patients as a reflection of “penis envy,” we all laughed at the ridiculous deduction.
Yet is it really that absurd? Because we’ve all learned to dress for our role when we first entered the workforce just so we look more competitive, more professional — have we not?
Meanwhile, when playing female characters, the actresses are in nothing but white pajamas: as naked, stripped-down, and natural as they can be on the stage. So here we have disguised, well-dressed masculinity and vulnerable, uncovered feminity. The two sides of the coin interact with, and battle against each other until both conclude that our only path to peace and freedom is to appreciate ourselves for who we are.
As I walked out of the auditorium, my mind replayed the climax scene. The characters repeated their power phrases in the most unorderly way. Words overlapped, sentences crossed over, and voices intertwined as the dancers moved their bodies freely and passionately to their hearts’ content. It was a cathartic moment when the characters decided to fully embrace themselves, each liberating themselves from the nightmares so they could weave a new, better dream.
In conclusion, This Is A Pipe, presented by Chicago Danztheatre is a thought-provoking masterpiece about identity and self-acceptance. It boldly explored how we’ve all, at one time, pretended to be someone else to “feel better” until the bandaid peeled off, and we realized that was never the solution.
If you love Samuel Beckett, you’ll love This Is A Pipe. If you’re a fan of contemporary dance drawing inspiration from ballet, jazz, and other dance forms, you’ll love the Danztheatre’s choreography.
Finally, if you didn’t get to see the play this year, don’t worry. As one of Chicago Danztheatre’s classic performances, we can expect the production to return in the near future. So head over to their website, follow them on Instagram, or join the mailing list, so you don’t miss out on any future performances!
About Chicago Danztheatre
Rooted in the tradition of Tanztheatre and in the collaborative process of devising, CDE creates contemporary multidisciplinary performances to address social issues, in a space that allows for community conversation and cultural change. CDE’s arts education programs create a space in Chicago schools for students to explore their own creativity. The organization’s teaching artists support the holistic development of science, math, reading, and social skills through art and performance.
