A Room of One's Own

Program note

Story: The narrative follows an unnamed contemporary woman — echoing Woolf's narrator — who, in a dream, experiences a soul journey into the life of an 18th-century woman, possibly the fictional Judith Shakespeare, William's imagined sister. This dreamscape becomes a metaphysical exploration, as the protagonist makes a bet with a divine figure, granting her three chances to alter the fate of another woman trapped by systemic oppression. Through both the failures and fleeting successes of these attempts, she grapples with the enduring weight of historical injustice and, in turn, gains a deeper understanding of her own identity and creative purpose. Characters: Soprano: Judy: The narrator of the story. A feminist writer living in the 2020s, she is a sharp, introspective woman, combining the qualities of Woolf and contemporary artists. She lives in New York, writing essays on feminism, but her work is repeatedly rejected. The high rent in New York makes it unaffordable for her to continue living there. Her editor suggests she turn to writing novels about love, but the incompatibility between her life and her ideals causes her immense pain. Alto: Judith Shakespeare: The fictional sister of William Shakespeare, a tragic figure who highlights the obstacles women have faced throughout history and struggles with self-expression. She possesses a creative talent comparable to William Shakespeare's, but she has never received creative guidance or encouragement. At home, she is treated as a "house angel." Divine Figure: A mysterious being who offers the narrator a surreal opportunity to influence history, challenging the boundaries between autonomy and fate. This character is essentially the audience for the play, suggesting that the current situation can be changed by anyone. Tenor: William Shakespear Alvin: Judy's book editor Bass: John Shakespeare