Gloria: A Life
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Cititour.com Review
By the most conventional of critical standards, it’s hard to call “Gloria: A Life,” Emily Mann’s new bioplay about the pioneering journalist and feminist Gloria Steinem, a true success. After all, any attempt to capture to breadth of this remarkable woman’s remarkable life in a mere 100 minutes is almost by its nature bound to come up short.
Here, despite the savvy and inventive direction of Diane Paulus and an extremely appealing central performance by Christine Lahti (aided by six excellent ensemble members juggling almost countless roles), that is the case. Indeed, one wishes that Mann had been a little less concerned about hitting all the expected notes, even briefly (Steinem’s short “undercover” stint as a Playboy Bunny, the founding of Ms. Magazine, et al.) and given us a bit more of Steinem’s mostly untold story.
For example, Steinem’s recollections of a dirt-poor childhood that led to an even harder adolescence in which she was forced to take care her mentally ill mother are not just heartbreaking (and beautifully played by Lahti), but give us both an extra appreciation of Steinem’s many accomplishments as well as spectacular insight into her own inner battle to find her own voice.
I had forgotten that Steinem, one of the world’s most prominent single gals and serial dates, finally married at age 66 (for practical and romantic reasons), and that her husband, David, tragically died of cancer just a few years later – after which Steinem further her resolved to focus on the feminist movement.
Her interactions with historical figures as diverse as Bella Abzug and Native American leader Wilma Mankiller also played a huge part in Steinem becoming the woman she is today, and they’re effectively (if also rather hastily) dramatized. And it is extremely instructive to watch actual news footage that condemned Steinem’s work, along with re-dramatizations of moments such as the one when Steinem was handily berated for destroying the nuclear family by a caller on Larry King’s CNN show. (The excellent projection design is by Elaine J. McCarthy.)
But – and here’s the big “but” – “Gloria: A Life” is no conventional theatrical experience. After the actual play concludes, the audience (seated on surprisingly comfortable and colorful pillow-backed risers by Amy Rubin) is asked to participate in one of Steinem’s most favorite activities: a talking circle. (It is, as she notes in the play, what we called a “consciousness-raising group” in the 1970s). Take note: no one is forced to share their thoughts and feelings, and the allotted 25-minute time goes quicker than one might expect.
As this experience will vary from night to night, I can’t promise your circle will be as invigorating as mine – especially since Steinem (still both dynamic and humble at age 84) was our guest leader and the speakers ranged from an emotional 24-year-old journalist who, through tears, confessed she was a victim of sexual abuse and scared for this country’s future to the legendary actress Diane Ladd (a guest of a fellow critic) who begged Steinem to continue to convince the country that women should have the right to control their own bodies.
But what I can surmise is that, even without Steinem’s actual presence in the house, “Gloria: A Life” will function as a catharsis for many women (and men) of all ages, an affirmation of any life spent fighting for gender equality, and both a reflection on what has come before (Steinem, the “character” reminds us early on that she has seen a lot worse than our current plight) and a spark to continue the battle she helped begin over 50 years ago. Judged on that level, “Gloria: A Life” is an unqualified success story.
By Brian Scott Lipton
Visit the Site
http://gloriatheplay.com/
Cast
Starring Christine Lahti, DeLanna Studi, Patrena Murray, Joanna Glushak, Liz Wisan, Francesca Fernandez McKenzie, Fedna Jacquet, and Brittany K. Allen
Open/Close Dates
Opening 10/18/2018
Closing 3/31/2019
Theatre Info
Daryl Roth Theatre
20 Union Square
New York, NY 10003
Map
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