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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 1, 1987)
Block by block, life by life Quilters has ample singing and dancing, but music isn’t the most memorable part — the quilts themselves are. The onset o f menstruation is handled in a musical number. Adolescent women sing about uilters, a musical play depicting the lives the curse o f being the first (or last!) to get their o f pioneer women, will re-open October periods. 2 for an extended run at the Schubert Theatre in The abortion scene is the most powerful I Beaverton. Artists’ Repertory Theatre has pro have ever seen on this subject. The intensity, the duced what Willamette Week is calling “ the desperation, the secret sorority that exist when year’s best show.” legal abortion is not an option are quietly and Quilters (by Molly Newman and Barbara sensitively portrayed. The agony of the decision Damashek) uses sixteen quilted pattern blocks itself will always be with us. but a reminder of what is necessary — and REAL — when abor tions are illegal is good to see. M arriage, sibling rivalry, education, death and disaster are all covered. There is one glaring gap: lesbianism is not addressed. Oh. one wo man is a spinster, but she sings of her loneliness and her inability to bear children. to describe events in the lives o f women. (Ten In point o f fact, lesbians had a pretty tough blocks would have made for a tighter produc time in those days. Unmarried women usually tion: the show is too long for the audience’s lived with their extended families and were com fort.) This clever— and beautiful — device resented. A few women were teachers, but moves the story forward from birth to adulthood salaries were too low to support even one wo to death, portraying many life experiences. man adequately. Women were not allowed to Along the way, we meet Sarah McKendree Bonham and her six daughters, as well as own land if they had one male relative living. Lesbian lives were interesting, to say the least. myriad relatives and friends all portrayed by the cast o f seven women. (At press time the all new Quilters has ample singing and dancing, but cast had not been nam ed.) music isn’t the most memorable part — the quilts themselves are. Sixty-four women The typical events of women’s lives are ex worked the individual quilt blocks that come to plored. Quilters includes the requisite child life onstage. They also created the fabulous birth scene, but it is quickly executed and the quilt that is revealed at the end. audience is not subjected to the prolonged wri The sets, lights and costumes serve as ap thing and grimacing such scenes usually con propriate background to the beauty o f the quilts.» tain. (Thank you. Director Rebecca Adams.) B Y S A N D R A D E H E L E N PULSE & IMPULSE Q A M odern D ance Choreographers' Showcase October 22-25, Two Different Programs Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center, 5340 N. Interstate 8:00 pm B Y C A T H Y S I E M E N S * ^ ^^T £»V Y «S, a suspense novel of X ^ 1 women, revolution and love,” is the first novel from former Portlander, Heather Conrad. Going against the grain o f much of today's fiction. ;V*£*WeS portrays strong wo men characters responding to our complex be leaguered world with initiative, cooperation and courage. It is a welcome antidote to the modernist angst, ennui and alienation. N *E *W » S — North East West and South — is a global anti-imperialist organization controlled by women that is planning an ambitious interna tional conference while at the same time coordinating a daring clandestine action. As the project progresses, the lives o f the women, both lesbian and straight, unfold through interactions with their work, families, lovers and each other. Love and its fading, in-law problems, survival, parents; in short, all the human dilemmas we encounter in our personal lives are played out from a refreshing and challenging perspective. This expanded perspective is a profound com mitment to the well-being o f all people. Family, friends and lovers are one small group within the general concern for people globally. This leads to interesting contradictions, difficult choices and a sophisticated interplay of values, needs and desires. The characters of A(*£* W*5 are playing for higher and certainly more dramatic stakes than personal satisfaction. Conrad has also managed to weave factual information on the international scene through out the novel in an appropriate manner. Her erstwhile reader cannot help but come away painlessly a little better educated. For those who like a good adventure story about strong women told from a palatable politi cal point o f view, I recomend A«£*W *5. Ms. Conrad will return to Portland Friday. O ctober 23. from 5:00 p .m .-7:00 p.m. to read from N*E*W»S at A Woman’s Place Book store. She deserves a warm welcome. • 30 artists show & sell cards to canvasses. ONGCHNG Thurs. Nite Socials 6 3 0 pm -1 0 pm^ OCTOBER 60's Bla cklig ht1 Shout o f Art Opens Oct. 23 NOVEMBER Communities o f Women R r t Shorn Opens Nov. 17 3764 SE Hawthorne 235-0654 hours/lrifo. t L We Buy Te x tb o o k s presents THE DELL’ARTE PLAYERS COMPANY in THE ROAD NOT TAKEN A comic thriller dramatizing the struggle to preserve the redwoods in northern California Coventry Cycle (7 LIMITED ENGAGEMENT AT THE PORTLAND CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS OCTOBER 7-OCTOBER 17 Tues.-Sat., 8pm/Sat. & Sun., 2 pm Sun., 7 pm OPENING NIGHT, OCT 9, WITH COMPLIMENTARY CHAM PAGNE RECEPTION FOLLOW ING THE PERFORMANCE TAKARA • PANASO NIC CYCLE PRO • FAG G IN (fro m Ita ly ) C ALL 222-2487 for reservations between 3-7 p.m. Tues.-Sat. O P E N TU ESD A Y-SU N D A Y 230-7723 2025 SE Hawthorne Blvd. The Great Northwest Bookstore 1001 S.W. I Oth Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97205 * (503) 223-809$ 75 (HH) titles in slock All cAtegones hardctner & paperback Wl1 1 '' * Books bought and sold ______________ 243-7930 3 r r t d o w n t h e r l l e v g a l l e r y ? PERCV'S LIU ER B LE RRT STUDIO Presents: LOCAL ARTISTS ongoing Women, revolution and love Dilemmas we encounter in our personal lives are played out from a refreshing and challenging perspective, in the new novel, N«E®W«S, by former Portlander, Heather Conrad. $7.00 These concerts made possible bv grants from the MAC, the OAC and the NEA. THE NEW ROSE THEATRE 904 S.W. MAIN ST. PORTLAND, OR 97205 NATURAL FIBRE CLOTHING new market villa 54 sw 2nd 228-1693 open daily £ -v - H FriT s m w ff .T wr" ‘ • OS • tolO uuV. TKVI .iwtottO
