Online Reviews

West Seattle Herald
Feminism revisited in play
by Tim St. Clair

Steeplechase Productions rounds out it's first season of plays with an echo from the 1970's.

"I'm Getting My Act Together and Taking it on the Road" is a feminist musical about a band preparing a new nightclub act.

The fictional group Hether Jones and the Liberated Women's Band Plus Two (the lead guitarist and drummer are men) is already somewhat famous for a song that eeked its way into the Top 100.

Heather (played by Sabrina Prielaida is the lead singer. Shea and the other band members want to performs songs with a feminist bent.

However, the group's manager, Joe, (played by Scott Nath) insists they stick to the tried-and-true patterns of their only near hit.

They argue about music as much as they disagree about male and female roles in society. The slowly building debate between Heather and Joe forms the framework for "I'm Getting My Act..."

Heather wants to sing lyrics of protest interspersed with dramatic scenes of social commentary. But Joe, who calles Heather "honey" and "babe," wants her to be more like Olivia Newton-Jon and Linda Ronnstadt.

Heather questions the sincerity of male/female relationships when both are busy living up to social expectations and gender stereotypes. She wonders why women still adapt cute-little-girl routines to manipulate men.

She sings of "lost hope" and "feeling like an actress in your own depressing soap."

Heather and the other women in the group discuss why they're attracted to men who don't want them around, or who leave them.

"So we can be alone and be strong," Heather theorizes.

She has conflicts of her own.

In a song she calls "my strong-woman number," Heather sings "I'm so capable I could scream."

Although Heather battles with Joe over content of the show, she is somewhat attracted to him. But he's interested in the unseen Francesca.

The performance isn't all talkshow seriousness. There's plenty of good 70's music too. While most of the dialogue is between Heather and Joe, the band members chime in with instrumental comments of their own.

Jennifer Chadwick and Valerie Vestal are the backup singers. Alice and Cheryl. Chadwick dies a great job satirizing the stereotypical "daddy" in one skit.

David Lavin is Jake, the lead guitarist: Anita Manuel is Annie, the pianist, and Chandra Cogburn plays Crissy, the basist.

Adam Kessler, who plays Bobby, the drummer, adds sounds throughout the show that punch up the dialogue between Heather and Joe.

The pre-show dinner includes three kinds of pizza as well as roast beef with green beans. References to the latter are included in the show.

"I'm Getting My Act Together and Taking It on the Road" continues Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays through August. 3, 2002 at the Liberty Deli, 2722 Alki Ave S.W., Seattle, WA. A buffet dinner is served at 6:30 p.m. and the show starts at 7:30.

For Ticket info, call 206.935.8420.

I’m Getting My Act Together and Taking it on the Road

Liberty Deli, 2722 Alki Avenue SW in West Seattle

Reservations: (206) 935-8420

Website created by Scott Nath