Gloria: a Life
by Emily Mann
Directed by Sharon Hunter
New Jewish Theatre
June 1, 2023
Jenni Ryan
Photo by Jon Gitchoff
New Jewish Theatre
For a while in recent history, and especially in America, it often seemed to me that the first person that most people would think of when they heard the word “feminist” was Gloria Steinem. Steinem has been a highly visible figure over the years, beginning in the 1960s and continuing to today, although she’s not quite as ubiquitous as she once seemed. Becky Mann’s play Gloria: a Life, currently being staged by the New Jewish Theatre, looks at this prominent figure in the history of the feminist movement, as well as some of her contemporaries and how the world has changed over the years as a result of their efforts. It features a strong cast, led by an impressive leading performer who took on the role at essentially the last minute.
This is a relatively short play, told in the first person from the perspective of Steinem, who is played by Jenni Ryan and supported by a cast of performers who all play various roles as the story unfolds (Summer Baer, Kayla Ailee Bush, Sarah Gene Dowling, Carmen Cecilia Retzer, Chrissie Watkins, and Lizi Watt). It’s essentially a quick but very personal look at Steinem’s life and her role in the feminist movement, often referred to as “Women’s Lib” back in the day, as well as a brief overview of the movement itself, especially in the 1960s and 70s, also serving as a striking contrast to how societal expectations and laws regarding women have changed over the years–from the 1950s idealization of the “perfect” wife and mother to the revelation of the real struggles that women went through to be taken seriously in work and life. The story showcases Steinem’s formation as a journalist and as a world-famous leader, while also highlighting the work of other important figures in the feminist movement, including congresswoman Bella Abzug (Dowling), Cherokee leader Wilma Mankiller (Watt), and Black feminist leaders Dorothy Pitman Hughes (Bush) and Flo Kennedy (Watkins).
The story is as thorough as it can be in its short running time, which is essentially one act with a short “talking circle” added on as “Act Two”, in which various local leaders–with a different “guest responder” each performance–join the cast onstage to talk about their experiences, react to the play, and respond to questions from the audience. At the performance I saw, the guest responder was state representative Tracy McCreery.
The staging is energetic and fast-moving, as the story unfolds and Steinem tells her story of her life and work. Ryan gives a thoroughly engaging performance as Steinem, which is all the more impressive considering she was a last-minute replacement in the role, and had script in hand on opening night, even though the presence of the script didn’t take anything away from Ryan’s compelling portrayal. There is also excellent support from the strong cast, who all play a variety of roles. All of the players are excellent and perform their roles with energy, although if I have to choose a standout, I think Dowling is especially excellent in her two most prominent roles, as Steinem’s mother, Ruth, and as the outspoken Abzug.
The show also makes a strong impression in a technical sense. The play is performed in the round, with a simple but effective set by Fallon Podrazik that works well for the tone and pace of the story. Michele Friedman Siler’s costumes are terrific, featuring the distinctive looks of various eras and characters portrayed, with the vibrant 1970s outfits a highlight. There’s also excellent work from lighting designer Denisse Chavez and sound designer Amanda Werre, and the use of era-specific music works well to help move the story along.
No matter how much you know, or don’t know, about Gloria Steinem, and whatever you may think about her and her work, there’s no doubt that she has been a prominent figure in history for the past 60 years or so. This is a look at her life, her causes, and her contemporaries that’s intriguing and fascinating even if it is brief. It’s compelling theatre from a company known for excellence in its productions.
Cast of Gloria: a Life
Photo by Jon Gitchoff
New Jewish Theatre
The New Jewish Theatre is presenting Gloria: a Life at the J’s Wool Studio Theatre until June 18, 2023
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