Repetition and revision
A signature feature in Parks' plays is her use of Joseph Roach's repetition with revision, or 'rep and rev'.[15] This is a literary style in theatrical performance which allows for historical moments to be remade in the present through repetition of dialogues and actions, while being slightly revised with each re-occurrence.[16] In Venus, Parks replays historical events on stage as a response to the ways that black bodies have been historically subjected to abusive and unlawful power dynamics.[16] Beyond the character's dialogues and actions, the entire Venus play is a performance of repetition and revision in the way it retells a story of Saartjie Baartman. 'Rep and Rev' begins immediately in the Overture with dialogue like, "I regret to inform you that thuh Venus Hottentot iz dead... There wont b inny show tuhnite.",[6] "Exposure iz what killed her",[6] and "Thus doctor says she drank too much.".[6] Parks repeats these lines in the final chorus, "There wont b inny show tuhnite.",[10] "I say she died of drink.",[10] and "Miss me, Miss me, Miss me".[10] Parks' use of 'rep and rev' also appears in Venus's questions about her choice. When Baartman's character is the Girl, she asks the Brother whether she has a choice to move to London, and later, when her character is the Venus, she asks the Baron Docteur whether she has a choice to move to Paris. Baartman's question is the same in both scenarios, however, Venus repeats this question with new experiences from performing in London, while being geographically situated in a new location.
