Maddy Eddy, Cassandra Sirois and Corinne Sutton-Smith Photos by Kish @kishmyphoto
Presented by MoonChild
So Mote It Be is a burlesque musical that unites three historical women through a shared prophesy. Having fallen into folklore as witches, they’ve mystically survived for hundreds of years, bound together. Their sacred mission is to establish a balance between masculine and feminine forces in humanity.
Marie-Josephte Corriveau (Cassandra Sirois), a Québécois woman put to death for killing several husbands, Tituba (Maddy Eddy) the slave woman from the Salem’s witch trials, and Alice Kyteler (Corinne Sutton-Smith), the first prosecuted witch in history—these women are now the featured talent at a strip club.
Each woman gets a song to explain her situation. As we learn their backstories, Marie-Josephte falls in love with one of her clients—the gentle, affable and supportive Liam (Sheldon Graham). This causes a rift between her and the other women as it seems to threaten the mission.
Along with Georgia Hathaway on violin, Graham also provides acoustic guitar accompaniment for the musical numbers. The choreography is understated and gestural. Each song is in a different style, fitted to each characters’ vibe.
The story touches on themes of trauma and the stigmatization of sex work. The conflict that occurs between Marie-Josephte and Liam was, for me, the most intriguing aspect. Her employment as a stripper and her very existence as an immortal being tests the limits of his acceptance. Both Graham and Sirois are endearing in their roles.
In her writing, Sirois has shaped the story into a fable that feels simultaneously quaint and contemporary. Her, Eddy and Sutton-Smith maintain a preternatural mystique while grounding these women with familiar, human foibles. Director Evelyn Long draws it all together in a low-key yet persuasive style.