TRAFFORD TANZI

TRAFFORD TANZI

Role: Tanzi
Director: Danny Hiller
Writer: Claire Luckham
Production: Mermaid Theatre, London
Year: 1983


The play is set in a wrestling ring where the story of the title character, Tanzi, is told. Tanzi’s parents bring her up to be feminine, but she refuses to conform to traditional femininity and is labelled a tomboy. She marries a professional wrestler named Dean Rebel and supports him in his career. Eventually, she becomes a champion professional wrestler herself and finally challenges her husband Dean to a match, with the loser being required to do the housework.

In keeping with the wrestling theme, the play is divided into ten rounds, each of which ends with a bell. All of the cast members participate in wrestling during the play, and the audience is welcome to cheer and boo the characters as though they were at an actual wrestling match.