The truth behind Wonder Woman
Play examines the man who created superhero, and his sometimes racy past
“Not even girls want to be girls so long as our feminine archetype lacks force, strength, and power. ... The obvious remedy is to create a feminine character with all the strength of Superman plus all the allure of a good and beautiful woman.” — William Moulton Marston, in "The American Scholar"
It’s hard to imagine a time before Wonder Woman.
Even now, years after her creation, the image of the most archetypal female superhero is so firmly embedded in our cultural zeitgeist that there’s at least one person at every Halloween party dressed up in her iconic, star-dotted tiara.
And with Wonder Woman taking a co-starring role in the upcoming "Batman v Superman" movie, she's becoming part of the zeitgeist for a new generation of fans. And with that, they might wonder where she came from.
“Lasso of Truth” can help fill in that background. The play, written by Carson Kreitzer and being staged at Arizona State University this weekend, tells the story of the man behind Wonder Woman. William Moulton Marston was the psychologist who invented the lie-detector test and later conceived one of the great feminist icons of the 20th century. He was also in a polyamorous relationship with two women (here’s where the story starts to get racy).
The ASU School of Film, Dance and TheatreThe School of Film, Dance and Theatre is part of the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts. presents "Lasso of Truth" as part of its 2015-16 MainStage season, directed by guest director Pamela Fields and starring ASU students.
The play will be performed at the Lyceum Theatre on ASU’s Tempe Campus at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 12–13 and 18–20 and 2 p.m. Feb. 14 and 21.
Tickets are $16; $12 for ASU faculty, staff and alumni; $12 for senior citizens; and $8 for students. Tickets can be purchased online or by calling 480-965-6447.
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