aprii 6.2001 *
THEUTER
..........v..........
Using the real T word
hoever said feminist humor is an oxy
moron obviously never saw Melinda
Pittmans 2001 musical comedy
odyssey, Wonderbroads.
Winner of the Oregon Book Award for Best
Drama, this production brings to life the
“sheroes” of the 20th century. Through the
magic of suspended disbelief, it places them all
in the same place at the same time so they can
share ideas, songs and the occasional soft-shoe.
The story goes something like this: W hile
seeking solace in a difficult-to-open bottle of
Odwalla juice, some of the women of Lilith Fair
bemoan the turn their careers have taken since
that festival ended. W hen the bottle finally
gives up the ghost, it does so literally, and out
pops Lilith— you know, Adams first gal pal, the
one before Eve, later dissed as a hag, witch, les
bian, etc. She then introduces the other fair
women to the likes of Susan B. Anthony (who,
incidentally, calls a rollicking square dance),
Mother Jones, Carrie Nation, Margaret Sanger,
Gloria Steinem and special guest goddess Xena.
Famous lesbians abound as Babe Didrikson
Zaharias outs herself in a hilarious version of
Sonny and Cher’s “I’m the True Babe.” Leader
of the pack Pittman emerges as Marie Equi,
radical lesbian physician of Portland herstorical
notoriety, who often was harassed and jailed for
administering health care to union women and
men in the early part of the past century.
W hen supershero Hillary Rodham Clinton
conjures up Eleanor Roosevelt from her Ouija
board, they commiserate on the difficulties sur
rounding being strong, independent, politically
vocal first women. Later, when Eleanor gets
broadsided by pointed questions regarding her
[You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll meet girls!
by
L yn n T
hom as
Ylelinda Pittman (center) wears most of the hats in W onderbroads
female secretary/companion/lover, she utters
the immortal words, “Don’t ask don’t tell,”
which leads to a fabulous interruption by Mar-
garethe Cammermeyer singing the old Fred
Astaire standard, “W on’t Tell, Don’t Ask Me,”
complete with tap-dancing military types.
The show also has serious moments: a song
that tells the plight of migrant farmworkers and
one that portrays the story of Julia Butterfly
and her fight to save a giant redwood by living
in it. Marian Anderson singing from the steps
of the Lincoln Memorial is also quite moving.
Pittmans original song “America” shows all
the hope and despair of the immigrant experience.
Wonderbroads also includes a tribute to Elizabeth
Cady Stanton, and when Fannie Lou Hamer tells
off President Bush, we are all right behind her.
Producer/director/writer/performer Pittman
has worked in professional theaters from the
Oregon Shakespeare Festival to the Arena
Stage in Washington, D.C. She has directed
pieces as diverse as You Can’t Take It with You,
Passion and The Breasts ofTiresias.
In 1984, Pittman wrote her first full-length
play with music, Atlantis. She joined the Angels
(now Angels DotComedy) in 1985 and began
writing, directing and perfonning topical satiric
comedy revues and musicals, including Paradise
Fbssed and It’s a Jungle Out There.
Portland actor and original Wonderbroad
Sharon Mann returns for this, the second
incarnation of Wonderbroads.
Joining them are some of the area’s finest
talents, including Portland musical comedy star
Rebecca Kimball, rising singer-songwriter sen
sation Jude Hill, emerging artist Audra Gandy,
choreographer and singer Yolanda Lopez, Port
land Comedy Sportz founder Amy Gray and
Australian diva Selma Chook. Also, from the
original production, featured pianist Tom Ten
Eyck returns along with guitarist Greg Scholl.
“Wonderbroads is a show about where we’ve
come from and where we’re headed,” Pittman
says. “We sing and dance and tell jokes, all the
while honoring our foremothers and all the fore
play they wished they had before we got here.”
She adds: “This is our story, all of our stories.
These may be famous women we are portraying,
but Wonderbroads is really about the lives of ordi
nary women and how we all change the world.”
T h e show is a fast-paced, furiously funny
musical comedy. It’s also a fabulously enter
taining and educational look at women who
made a difference.
Very few musicals are by, for and about wom
en. And even fewer use the “f” word (feminist) so
unapologctically while managing to maintain that
precarious balance of dignity and levity. JH
W
o n d erbro ad s
plays 8 p.m . through April 14
the Hollywood Theatre, 4036 N .E . Sandy Blvd.
Tickets are $20 at the door or $18 in advance
through the Angel Box Office at 503-288-5181
or Fastixx at 503-228-8499.
L y n n T
hom as
is a Portland free-lance writer
and musician.
Sunday, April 15, 2001
æafe#
Served in the Minoan Room
Carving Station
Fresh Seafood
Waffles Station
Leg of Lam b, Prim e Rib,
Pork Loin an d Pt Ham
Shrim p, M ussels and
Sm oked Salm on
With Flavored Syrups
and Toppings
Made to Order
Omelets & Pasta
Station
Assorted Garden
Fresh Salads
Assorted
Desserts
Make Your Reservations Now.
C a ll 5 0 3 - 2 2 4 - 2 2 8 8
Adu,t s 19 95
Children ( 6 - 1 1) $9.95
Find som eone for spring dining
a d v e n tu re s...
...Ju st Friends Voice Personal
A ds Page 50
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