This spring, the History Theatre, which regularly produces new works of theater about local and national history, has transformed into the HERstory Theater, with three new plays by women, about women: "real women, real stories." The line-up includes a
new musical about a female spy and a
play about some radical nuns. But first:
Stewardess! This new play by Kira Obolensky tells the true story of a real American hero, Mary Pat Laffey, who tirelessly worked for the union to improve the working conditions and treatment of then-called stewardesses, and even sued her employer, Northwest Airlines, eventually winning $59 million dollars in back pay for over 3000 flight attendants. Unfortunately we're not yet at the point of equal pay for women and men, but thanks to Mary Pat we're a lot closer. This fun, playful, inspiring play tells her story, as well as that of other feminists of the era, at just the right time. There's a growing awareness of the importance of women's stories and women's voices, and the Herstory Theatre is celebrating that.
Stewardess! went through two iterations at Herstory Theatre's annual "Raw Stages" festival,
both of which I saw and loved, although the readings were a bit talky and pedantic. Playwright Kira Obolensky has solved that issue, as I had no doubt she would, and managed to get in all the important facts while telling the story in a playful and engaging way. The set-up is that we're all on a flight through history, a sort of fantasy flight that also includes feminist icon Gloria Steinem and Lorraine Wright, who fought a similar fight in the airlines for racial equality. The play begins and ends at an airport with the usual scurry, while our characters all get on the flight and take us along with them. Mary Pat is sometimes addressed by a voice (her conscience? her inspiration?), and scene transitions are often accompanied by this small intrepid cast singing period songs about flying, which adds levity to what could be a heavy story. It's all quite delightful, and incredibly inspiring (especially if you attend with an audience full of current and former flight attendants, as I did, for whom Mary Pat is a hero).
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| Tracey Maloney as Mary Pat Laffey (photo by Scott Pakudaitis) |
We first meet Mary Pat in the '50s as an excited young candidate for this exciting job seeing the world. She meets fellow flight attendants Primmie, Fran, and others, as they support each other and commiserate. For once she got past the glamour and excitement, Mary Pat began to see the unfairness of a system that requires weight and grooming checks of the female employees only, doesn't allow married women or women with glasses to hold these jobs, and pays the male pursers (supervisors) more while not allowing women to even apply for the job. Mary Pat began working with the union to negotiate more fair practices, but when she was finally hired as a purser, then paid less and given lower seniority despite her experience, she became the lead plaintiff in a class action law suit against Northwest. The play takes us through the highs and lows of her journey, with people who supported her and many who didn't.
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| the ensemble (photo by Scott Pakudaitis) |
There are a lot of characters in this play but only six actors, which creates a real ensemble feeling in the show. But Tracey Maloney only plays one character, Mary Pat, portraying both her strength and her uncertainty, making her very human and relatable. Jamila Anderson, Kimberly Rose Richardson, and Elise Langer are all delightful in their portrayal of several very different women - flight attendants, feminists, and more. John Catron and Adam Whisner have the thankless job of playing all of the jerks Mary Pat encounters on her path - and there are a lot of jerks in the story. But they commit to it (boos and all), and do get to play one or two nice guys. It's a really great ensemble, playing both the humor and the drama of the story. Director Noël Raymond balances the tone nicely, as well as the journey through time and space in this epic story.
The base costumes for the cast are all the same - a navy blue airline uniform suit. Characters are differentiated with an accessory change, so we quickly come to recognize who's who. The set features that familiar old Northwest red and white logo, and set pieces look like they came right off an airplane, including vintage blue suitcases sometimes used as stools. The circular floor rotates, as do the raised platforms, creating different spaces for scenes. The whole look is chic and stylish, and so evocative of being on a plane that I almost started to feel nauseous. (Costume design by Amber Brown, scenic design by Joseph Stanley.)
Stewardess! continues through March 3 at the Herstory Theater in downtown St. Paul. Don't miss this flight!
