Women tell stories of persistence in the face of misogyny in Nevertheless, She Persisted. (Photo courtesy of Capital Fringe)
Reminds us of: Pod Save America from women’s perspectives.
Flop, Fine or Fringe-tastic?: Flop.
This curated collection of everyday women’s stories pre- and post-2016 election, brought to life by four capable actresses clad in all black, is so well-intentioned that to nitpick its execution feels cruel. But the premise — showcasing the virtues and perseverance of a diverse group of women in a time of political strife — never quite reaches its potential. Part of the issue is optics: Seeing four women read stories from writers the audience never meets or gets to know feels like a letdown. While watching, it’s often difficult to separate the personality of the reader from that of the writer. Without knowing even where the original item was posted (Facebook? Twitter? Tumblr? The comments section of a New York Times article?), each story comes across as an extension of its reader’s personality, rather than a translation of someone else’s actions and beliefs.
But the subject matter of the pieces — a combination of real-life online posts and submissions written specifically for the show, all curated by director Lauren Hanna — also leaves something to be desired. Many of them express beliefs about the current state of American politics that will be familiar to anyone who traffics in any variety of liberal commentary: Donald Trump is a misogynist, the pace of breaking news updates is exhausting, immigrants are under greater threat than ever before. (Worth noting: All true.) Thankfully, a few personal stories cut through the clutter: one woman who wouldn’t be alive without Planned Parenthood, another who has made it her personal mission to help every older person she sees on the street carrying heavy groceries. Platitudes are a dime a dozen in post-election art; specifics are more elusive, and more powerful.
Where to See It: Atlas Performing Arts Center’s Lang Auditorium on July 15 at 12:30 p.m., July 19 at 7:45 p.m., and July 22 at 5 p.m. Buy tickets here.
See here for all of DCist’s 2017 Capital Fringe coverage. All shows are $17, with a button ($7) required for entry.
