Interludes

THE HANGOVER REPORT – GLORIA: A LIFE is a lucid and poignant encapsulation of Ms. Steinem and her life’s work

• By drediman
• February 7, 2019
• No Comments

The company of Emily Mann’s “Gloria: A Life” at the Daryl Roth Theatre.

This week, I finally caught up with Gloria: A Life at the Daryl Roth Theatre, where it has been playing since October. The bio-drama, written by acclaimed playwright and director Emily Mann, recounts the extraordinary life, times, and (right-leaning) politics of influential feminist writer and activist Gloria Steinem. The play skillfully weaves Ms. Steinem’s personal narrative with the larger social and political milieu, largely over a good chunk of 20th century American history.

I found Gloria: A Life to be informative and lucidly told – thanks in large part to in-demand Diane Paulus’s (it’s refreshing to see her working outside the musical theater idiom) nurturing direction – and a poignant reminder of Ms. Steinem’s accomplishments as a feminist and our responsibility to carry forward her life’s work. Ms. Mann’s play also manages to be a graceful and efficiently-plotted portrait of Ms. Steinem as a woman, an affecting epitome of the idea that the personal is the political.

Gloria Steinem is now played by Patricia Kalember, replacing Christine Lahti (who originated the title role). Ms. Kalember does a lovely job of depicting a woman who’s tenderly self-effacing but a conscious and critical witness to her own ongoing education. Gloria: A Life also features a deluxe all-woman ensemble cast – comprised of some of the city’s most gifted character actresses – who breathlessly and constantly shape-shift into countless roles as the play parades through the decades. They were a joy to watch. 

A short second act (more like a denouement) in the form of an interactive town hall session is typically led nightly by a special guest. At the performance I attended, that guest was none other than Ms. Steinem herself (!). I’m happy to report that in person, her compassion, tenacity, and passion for living was at least as inspiring as portrayed by Ms. Kalember and Ms. Mann just prior in performance.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

GLORIA: A LIFE
Off-Broadway, Play
Daryl Roth Theatre
2 hours (with no intermission)
Through March 31