Venus in Furs

 
The reading of his play adapted by Thomas from the work by Leopold von Sacher-Masoch begins to bleed into his interaction with Vanda,(Nina Arianda,stalking about in black lace panties, garter belt and nylons and high heels). She has him give her his passport and money. He signs a contract, but instead of a one-year trial, it is for life. She bring him close, almost for an embrace and tells him to call his fiancée and tell her he won’t be home at all, no explanation. He immediately obeys and shuts off the cell which she throws across the room. Although the sadomasochism is intense and erotic, it mainly backlights the underlying divide between men and women and their struggles to fulfill their needs through the other. After, the girl at the ticket window recommended a café less than a block away which turned out to be shuttered, long shuttered, apparently, emphatically. They walked a few blocks through the cold blowing wind and crusted snow and were lucky to find a booth in a loud but atmospheric restaurant for drinks and late dinner. They talked mostly about philosophy, as the play hung in the air like smoke. How interesting to be Nina Arianda, auditioning for the part with playwright David Ives. Did she dress for the part?