Theater review: She the People

 

It starts off with the six ladies of Chicago’s “She the People” warning that “photography and misogyny are strictly prohibited.”

That’s your clue that feminism rules, at least here at San Diego Repertory Theatre for the next couple of hours, while the well-known troupe from Second City takes apart man-centric society bit by bit. The gloves are off, so be forewarned. Your mom would be scandalized if she knew you were spending 90 minutes listening to so much, shall we say, colorful language. 

There are scripted elements, such as the teacher of How Not To Be Racist 101, in which one “student” responds “I booked my wedding reception at an old plantation.”

Or a longish section in which each woman elaborates on the introductory “I’m a woman in a commercial,” and takes apart what women are asked to sell on the air. You know, shampoo, food….

One of my favorite bits takes place at a kid’s birthday party. He’s a year old, and the ladies postulate that “It may be that your baby is gay” and “You might have a little homo in your home today.”

But the best bits are the improvisations, such as one on the audience-supplied word “pillow.” One cast member’s response: “Sex with me is like a pillow. Down.”

Audience involvement is big, in fact, especially in a game show section in which an audience member is brought onstage as contestant.

This is an evening of movement, with the women constantly coming, going and combining in different ways. They get wonderful musical help from music director/sound designer Elise Wattman, playing keyboard from one side of the stage. 

It’s a night of one-liners, audience participation and, let’s face it, male-bashing, or at least male superiority bashing. And that can’t be a bad thing.

But slow down, ladies. It sounds like you only have 15 seconds to finish and catch the bus.