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aprii 16. 2004 » Just O U t .37
THEATER
▼
Revolutions
11M Mou could read his-
activism, the common recently was returned to
tory Kx)ks, hut
public land.
The personal is political
this is more fun,”
Portland audience members can look for
H says Bethroot
ward
to cameo appearances by notable femi
And theatrical, too.
Gwynn, creator of
nists Naomi Morena, a w-riter and musician,
by M eg D aly
Women: The Longest Revo
and Ann Mussey, an assistant professor of
lution, a performance
women’s studies at Portland State University.
about the womens liberation movement that runs this month
Mussey will relate the story of how she and a
in Ashland, Eugene and Portland.
number of lesbian feminists who attended
Not only is it more fun, the production showcases the per-
Iowa’s Grinnell College flocked to Portland in
sonal stories of several Northwest women, adding an intimate
the early 1970s. She will also recount her
element to a complex social and political story.
involvement with the groundbreaking Portland
Gwynn calls her work a “performance documentary,” mean
Women’s Health Clinic.
ing it weaves together historical events with the personal sto
According to Gwynn, the performance will
ries of several co-performers. The 62-year-old lesbian has been
survey the changes and accomplishments in
involved with the women’s movement since the late 1960s and
women’s lives during the past 35 years. It will
has been a resident at Fly Away Home women’s land in south
also consider what is needed for the future.
ern Oregon since 1976.
“It’s all dime in a lively way," says Gwynn.
A contributor to several We’Mixm publications, Gwynn has
“There are songs, poems and humor throughout.”
been creating what she calls “personal theater” and performing
Barbara Winkler, the director of women’s
throughout the state since the 1980s. Portland performances
studies at Southern Oregon University, says
From left: Jem Mara, Bethroot Gwynn and Jennifer Council sport costume
include Pieces of Truth and Child Tracks and Amazon Wing. She
Women is “a must-see for anyone who wants to
designs from Oregon artist Tee Corinne’s Cunt Coloring Book
has also directed performances such as a recent production of
know more about second wave feminism and its
The Vagina Monologues in Roseburg.
continuing legacy, especially in Oregon.” |H
Two years ago she was invited to create a performance for
itics and economics, then broadens to incorporate global femi
the 2003 WomanSource festival in Ashland. She envisioned a
nism. Gwynn says it was important to her that the piece reflect
W omen : T he L ongest R evolution plays 7:30 p.m. April 17 at
sort of “feminist state of the union,” she says. After a crash
the full arc of the past several decades.
Southern Oregon University’s Center for the Visual Arts. Tickets are
course in women’s studies, she pulled together historical threads
Women was created through workshops led by Gwynn in
$5-$15 from 541 -552-6216. The performance benefits Illinois Valley
and personal memories to create her new show.
which the performers gave voice to memories of feminist
Safe House Alliance.
“The women loved it,” says Gwynn of the successful debut.
activism and discovery. Some of those stories became elements
The Eugene performance is 7:30 p.m. April 23 at University of
One of Women’s collaborators is Jem Mara, also a 60-some-
in the actual performance. Mara will perform a five-minute
Oregon’s Willamette Hall. Tickets are $5-$I5 sliding scale from
thing lesbian living in southern Oregon. “Part of my contribu
piece about her relationship with her son.
541-346-1134- The performance benefits the university’s Southern
tion has been to be a partner in the remembering,” says Mara,
The women are joined by Jenny Council, who, at 40, is the
Oregon Lesbian Archival Collection.
who attended her first women’s liberation meeting in 1971
youngest member of the ensemble. A native of England, she
The Portland performance is 7:30 p.m. April 24 at Portland State
Dublin, Ireland.
moved to southern Oregon several years ago because of the
University's School of Business auditorium. Tickets are $8-$l5 from
Gwynn says the first half of the performance tells stories
women’s community she found there.
503-232-6003. The performance benefits the Lesbian Community
from the second wave of American feminism, particularly
Council performs a personal piece about a protest she
Project and In Other Words.
women’s bookstores and music, health care and the rise of
attended in 1982 at Greenham Common, the U.S. military base
women’s studies programs. The focus then shifts to national pol
in Newbury, England. After nearly 20 years of women’s peace
Features Editor M eg D aly can be reached at megdaly@justout.com.
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