RUMINATING ON THE ROLE OF FIRST LADY THROUGH AMERICAN HISTORY

By Chuck Graham, TucsonStage.com

 

Denise Blum as Ladybird Johnson in Toni Press-Coffman's play "Consolation."

That eternal battle between the sexes is seen from the lofty White House capitol perch of several former First Ladies reflecting on their Presidential husbands as they gather to confer one symbolic afternoon with their colleague in arms and Washington DC affairs – Hillary Clinton. The time is in the aftermath of the 2016 presidential election.

Tucson playwright Toni Press-Coffman has imagined what their conversations might be like, in the process revealing social values that have changed through two centuries of family life in the White House and other behavior that hasn't changed at all.

In the cast directed by China Young as an online virtual production of the Winding Road Theatre Ensemble are: Lori Hunt (Lucretia Garfield to #20 James A. Garfield), Susan Cookie Baker (Grace Coolidge to #30 Calvin Coolidge); Lena Quach (Julia Tyler to #10 John Tyler); Abigail Dunscomb (Louisa Adams to #6 John Quincy Adams); Kat McIntosh (Eliza Johnson to #17 Andrew Johnson, also Mary Lincoln to #16 Abraham Lincoln); Denise Blum (Ladybird Johnson to #36 Lyndon B. Johnson, also Jane Pierce to #14 Franklin Pierce); Cynthia Jeffery (Ellen Wilson to #28 Woodrow Wilson, also Ida McKinley to #25 William McKinley, ) and Molly Lyons (Hillary Clinton to #42 Bill Clinton).

With such a large cast there is no space for anyone to have a large role, although most comments eventually become centered on Hillary Clinton, largely because (Gasp!) she actually ran for President of the United States! This opportunity never existed for the other women, who share both shock and resentment.

Presenting "Consolation" also becomes a size problem in this COVID era as the virtual production online is divided up into eight separate boxes on one screen.

Each box includes a different actor in a different home setting and each actor wears a costume of that particular period, but no mask.

Since all the voices come through one speaker, even though the voices change it is difficult to tell which “box” is speaking. You just hope as each person talks, a head nod or hand gesture will provide a clue.

But most important to Winding Road and to playwright Press-Coffman is the content of their conversation. Those changing roles of these First Ladies through history represent the changing roles of all women. To this end, Young's direction and the actors themselves tell a positive tale of resilience and determination.

Presented in approximately 90 minutes without an intermission, the opening minutes do include some welcomed introductions. There are akso a few comments about how their identity as First Ladies does not come from who they are, but who they married.

Women from earlier times are shocked by how coarse the nation's language has become. An early joke finds some more comfortable with the F-word than others. But all are happily astounded to learn so many women have been elected to Congress, and they totally agree there should be more.

Just the idea that an African-American man could actually be elected President has many of them speechless and on the verge of appoplexy.

Then there are long motherly conversations on the differences between raising girls and boys. Gun control also attracts their attention. Generally speaking, every subject that comes up generates divided opinions. But they all quickly agree on one thing – the philandering nature of Presidential husbands.

Bill Clinton and Donald Trump, our current President, quickly become the center of attention, with Hillary Clinton the ringleader pointing to a variety of choices she could have made. And defending the ones she did make.

“Consolation” is not about picking winners and losers, but more about developing a longer view. Everyone will have an opinion.

As a form of theater in the time of COVID, this “Zoom” approach has clarity but sacrifices the drama of actors interacting. Winding Road Theater Ensemble has more variations with a full 2020-2021 season planned online for its audience. Check windingroadtheater.org for all the details, or phone (520) 314-9870.

“Consolation” will be presented as a streamed recording of this Sept. 25^th performance on Sept. 27, Oct. 4 and Oct. 11 at 2 p.m.; also Oct. 3 and Oct. 9 at 7:30 p.m., via the Winding Road website. Tickets are $15.