Set in Missouri on the night before Dr. Sally Ride's historic launch into space, Ars Nova's world premiere explores sexual politics, power, and repression between three friends in 1983. More…
From the show:
It's 1983, the evening before Dr. Sally Ride's historic space flight. Hundreds of miles from the launch, a group of women with passionate opinions and no opportunities sit on a sweltering St. Louis rooftop watching life pass them by. Their uncharted desires bump up against American norms of sex and power in this intimate snapshot of queer anti-heroines.
See it if You like shows that mesmerize. This somehow balances beautifully on that line of being about everything and nothing simultaneously.
Don't see it if You’re looking for fast paced or lots of action. This is one of those shows that creeps up into your head and kind of blooms like a flower.
Also Delicious!
See it if Repressed lesbian best friends hang out and plumb their identities. Made me feel the ongoing struggle of finding myself. Inspiring.
Don't see it if You don’t like character development plays where the action is inside the mind. A wind blows away the fog of confusion and lets in hope.
Also This reminded me of N.C. Hunter’s “A Day by the Sea”, one of my favori... Read more Read less
See it if Birkenmeire's elliptical, idiosyncratic psuedo-feminist tale of two women inching towards a new self-awareness is driven by a superb quartet
Don't see it if Difficulty in gaining a footing on an elusive (if any) plot takes effort & often dead ends Despite its many appeals, its a shaggy dog story
See it if you like new works - this one well-acted with good a capella singing of 80's songs on a nicely designed set, used well under good direction.
Don't see it if you want a play that goes somewhere - this is a slice of life among four individuals set in a time that maybe unfamiliar to many-it's chatty
See it if women's relationships interest you. The play reflects on friends, neighbors, mothers, daughters, lovers, etc.as seen from a rooftop
Don't see it if slice of life is not your thing. The major event of the play has little to do with the characters we get to know during most of the play
See it if Two childhood friends believe that they have the luxury of time to accept or refute the context of their relationship. Beautiful. Great set.
Don't see it if Intentional poignancy & regret thicken the summer air on the eve of Dr. Ride's fateful mission,marking the time for decision is often brief.
See it if A trove of ideas & commentary that blend into the dialogue w/ chameleon subtlety so that the show’s almost indistinguishable from life.
Don't see it if the only writers/artists/people worth notice are ones making conspicuous, declarative, look-at-me gestures trumpeting their cleverness.
Also This show almost entirely avoids cliches. Many have said this plot goe... Read more Read less
See it if you like complex friendship plays where very little happens dramatically but much is revealed slowly through narrative and character
Don't see it if you don't want to think about who and what a person is, where and how life's decisions affect your future and don't want a feminist bent
Also A very challenging and clever way of showing the three-dimensionality ... Read more Read less
See it if A slow, continuous play with strange language, low stakes, sketchy characters. Four dissimilar women hash out their desires.
Don't see it if There are maybe two interesting conversations in the whole play, and the most interesting characters are not the leads. This one's a bust.
Also Perhaps I was just not in the right mindset or this play wasn't for me... Read more Read less
See it if the show is an intriguing conception, although the playwright doesn't really succeed. it is a rare relief to see a play about lesbians.
Don't see it if It's all talk, and the pacing is overly relaxed. The line readings are deliberately, and pointlessly, eccentric. The play feels incomplete.
See it if The most natural dialog since Delillo’s White Noise; gorgeous piece of writing and acting exploring repressed ‘80s lesbianism seeking escape
Don't see it if You need high action and can’t sit back and steep in the play’s gorgeous writing and acting as two women try to understand their feelings
Also It’s good to know going in what the play is about. The elephant in the... Read more Read less
See it if you love Erin Markey as I do... brilliant... as is Kristin Sieh
Don't see it if you're expecting to be spoon fed... there's a lot of interior stuff happening... I loved it
See it if You adore insight into a time period
Don't see it if You aren’t interested in women’s lives.
See it if you like slice-of-life plays that, er, play out in real time, mostly as a character study, but also don't mind a bit of magical realism
Don't see it if you're expecting something to "happen" during the play - the main action here lies in what happens off-screen and what doesn't happen at all
See it if You are interested in female/female relationships examined in a somewhat superficial way. The play doesn't give much back story.
Don't see it if You want a clear story and you want to know who these characters are. The play doesn't give much context for these people. A bit confusing.
See it if You enjoy a play that takes its time, if you like 80s period, looking for something lighthearted and enjoyable
Don't see it if Get bored easily, if you’re expecting an arc or much to happen, if you are expecting it to be relevant to space and Sally Ride
Also I really couldn’t tell you what this show is about. The last 10 minute... Read more Read less
See it if you love slice of life dialogue that goes nowhere for a long time, you want a feminist lesbian experience that kinda sorta doesn't budge
Don't see it if a great set is not enough for you; the early 80s and well written characters don't thrill; you want something to happen
Also there is some brilliant writing in this play but dramaturgically it ju... Read more Read less
See it if want to eavesdrop on aimless conversation among unconvincingly drawn characters. The lesbian undercurrent is the entirety of the plot. Zzz..
Don't see it if expect any degree of realism. I'm sure there's an interesting play about Sally Ride being a lesbian. This dull and plodding affair is not it
Also The un-raked auditorium makes for dreadful sight lines at the Barrow S... Read more Read less
See it if From tiny acorns mighty oaks will grow. Stunning acting and a story draws you in.
Don't see it if Fluid sexuality is assumed so be prepared for casual but truthful transitions.
See it if you're interested in a quirky new play w/ ideas about women exploring their roles and sexuality in the 80s. Well acted, though a little long
Don't see it if you need a clear narrative arc. The play feels a little 'loose' and unfinished.
See it if You enjoy a thoughtful script about the human experience, peppered with humor and sentiment.
Don't see it if You need explicitly curated drama.