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