Transgression brings literary twist to ‘The Dating Game’

Imagine a room full of some of the most notable romantic literary icons participating in ABC’s classic ‘70s game show, “The Dating Game.” That’s exactly what Transgression aims to deliver. Deer Bear Wolf’s immersive reading series returns with its fourth installment and first show of the new year as The Dating Game: Literary Icons Looking for Love comes to Dad’s Garage.
The upcoming performance marks two firsts for the series: the first stage show and the first time performers interact with each other. The bachelor, Christian Grey from 50 Shades of Grey, and the bachelorette, Hester Prynne of The Scarlet Letter fame, take turns asking their potential dates some raunchy questions. Hopeful suitors include James Bond, Bridget Jones, Peter Parker, Jane Eyre, and High Fidelity’s Rob Gordon.

Transgression founders and curators Laura Relyea and John Carroll say they wanted to do a February show with a love theme, but couldn’t come to a verdict. Once Dad’s Garage presented itself as a viable venue option, the stage and overall atmosphere helped guide their decision, they say.
Relyea and Carroll conceptualized the idea, selected the characters, and casted — but ultimately, performers have free rein to write and perform their own material. Carroll says he enjoys beings hands off and loves the freedom it gives the writers. Although the actors have the privilege of writing their own lines, local writer and Atlanta native Gavin Godfrey, who’s taking on the role of the mysterious Christian Grey, says it’s still no easy feat.  
“I have to be this dude who is like the opposite of me, and be creative and funny about it,” Godfrey says. Grey — for the uninitiated — is a business-savvy entrepreneur billionaire with a secret BDSM obsession. “Prior to being asked to perform I’ve never read 50 Shades of Grey, never saw the movie because I heard it was hot garbage. But I’m also the type of dude who likes to watch really shitty stuff and read really shitty stuff, so I was like ‘Great — I have a valid excuse to watch this movie.’”

Godfrey’s counterpart, Lauren Traetto, plays a “feminist, self-possessed, very strong, flirtatious, sex-positive version of Hester Prynne,” which she says is how Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote the original character.

“‘The Dating Game’ was a game that was created to monetize intimate interactions in the ‘60s, and we’re flipping that — we’re taking these public figures and privatizing them,” she says. “People are finding really creative ways to engage audiences with literature.”

Specifics and nuances of the final show remain a complete mystery. Godfrey and Traetto get to pick their dates at the show’s close based on whom they think pairs best with their characters. “We have no idea what the outcome will be,” Relyea says. “We try to make a really immersive, original, one-night only experience.”

Traetto and Godfrey say they’re excited about seeing the performance come full circle.
“I’m looking forward to seeing how the performers interpret the characters and what they bring to the show,” Traetto says. “I’m really excited to see the interactions with the different mix of characters.”

The Dating Game: Literary Icons Looking for Love goes down Mon., Feb. 29, at 8 p.m. at Dad’s Garage.