Haney and Barker in Mary Stuart.

In Washington Shakespeare Company’s Mary Stuart, there’s one big climactic moment that you’re waiting for: that two women will eventually make eye contact. And the fact that this moment is so breathlessly anticipated says something about the performances of these two women.

They are taking on the roles of Stuart herself (more familiarly known as “Mary Queen of Scots”) and Queen Elizabeth I. Director Colin Hovde has chosen a formidable pair of actresses for the face-off. Heather Haney is beautiful, commanding and self-possessed as the righteous but repentant Mary, and shows a fiery radiance when her character’s indignation at her plight eventually bubbles over. Her rival is the cool, arch Sarah Barker as Elizabeth I, who is drawn in so many directions — the French royalty who wants to domesticate her, her subjects which can’t seem to make up their minds about her, her fierce desire for independence and the scheming Earl of Leicester (Joe Brack) who has her heart. Seeing these woman trade barbs is thrilling, but there’s also the fascination that comes simply from grappling with what it was like to be a women in a place of power during the time.

Mary Stuart takes place after the titular character is accused of an assassination plot against the Queen (for those who need a history brush up, both women had arguable claims to the throne) and is thrown in prison when the plot is discovered. Stuart is a problem for Elizabeth on many levels, due to her loyal following with Catholics, and the legal process that finds her guilty uses some shady shortcuts and dubious evidence. It’s Elizabeth’s call whether to go the “off with her head” route given Mary’s conviction, rivalry and popularity.