Wickedest Woman

See it if you're interested in abortion history. Theatrical presentn of info w/oft-broken 4th wall. Gr story of strg woman, staged creatively. Singing

Don't see it if you get impatient; loses focus. Some scenes drag. Uneven acting skills. Sad (true) ending. Effective gender-bending roles. Google-ready.

See it if Well researched, written & acted bio. Excellent characterization of Madame Restell. I didn't know that abortion was legal in 1850.

Don't see it if You don't enjoy bio shows. You are uninterested in the history of abortion and how today's controversy relates to the late 19th century.

See it if to see a riveting 19th C historical musical drama about a fascinating (& shockingly unheralded) abortionist who became a NYC socialite.

Don't see it if u expect an abortion debate [This is notably non-political]; ur stridently anti-abortion & apathetic to the history of women's health issues

See it if Sharp, intelligent writing from Bashline infuses docu-drama about 'infamous' woman abortionist & health advocate O"Hara-Baker shines in lead

Don't see it if Strongest when following facts of Lohman's life & career; gets a little questionable when going personal esp around mother/daughter conflict

See it if you're interested in the abortion debate, curious about a historic figure in the birth control/abortion movement in NYC, strong female lead

Don't see it if you're not interested in a play about a proficient abortionist in late 19th century or biographical works that are repetitive or strident

See it if To learn about a historical figure you probably have never heard of. Totally gender fluid: women playing men, men playing pregnant women.

Don't see it if A bit amateurish. More like a history lesson than a fully realized play. Acting was good. Serious, not for you if you want something light.

Also The unique casting choices worked. Very interesting to learn how women dealt with unwanted pregnancies in the 1800s and how the laws changed over time.... Read more Read less

See it if A fascinating portrait of a woman who makes history in 1800’s New York. If you enjoy realistic drama see this it’s your kind of play !

Don't see it if You are looking for escapist drama and or you can’t deal with plays that portray the subject of abortion. Otherwise see it, you will learn !

See it if Like dramatizations of historical people/events. This a good example of when that works. Direction/lead good, nice use of music, interesting

Don't see it if Don't want story re women's health rights/abortion. This does slow down in the middle and could use some editing. Not all cast measure up.

See it if Seven actors portray multiple roles in a bioplay of Ann Lohman in 19th century NY who provided birth control and abortion services.

Don't see it if Unfortunately still relevant, freely available birth control & abortion when needed was & is a political issue rather than personal decision

See it if In your face regarding your right to choose! Historical provider of reproductive choice who could also play the game as well as anyone.

Don't see it if dislike having to be ideologically aligned to the show to like it. Coherent production but rough edges.

Also The existence and obscurity of this person is fascinating and O’Hara-Baker carries the show well. Kudos to Bashline for bringing Restell to light. The play is a breezy bio of a profitable midwife/abortionist living at a time when obstetrics-gynecology wasn’t really a thing (maybe I’ll see Behind the Sheet for better insight on how that was going).

WW is also sort of like a goddaughter of What the Constitution Means to Me—it harnesses the primal scream that comes from evaluating the history of what’s been legally afforded American women. This show is a lot rougher around the edges. I didn’t care for the songs or the cross-gender doubling. Anyone indifferent or even just moderate on abortion will probably chafe at WW’s polemical leanings. But the show’s raw appeal is precisely how unconcerned it is with making itself attractive & agreeable to everybody. The right to control your body/future is voiced with a decisive, unrepentant roar.... Read more Read less

See it if interested​ in 19th century positions about abortion & one woman's crusade to help those in need. Based on Ann Lohman's life. New to me.

Don't see it if you don't like gender bending actors playing multiple roles. Some better than others.

Also Lead actress, Jessica O'Hara-Baker, was terrific.

See it if Based on historical facts of early American attitudes and laws on birth control and abortion.The female lead is a standout .

Don't see it if Do not see if you expect a polished presentation or have rigid attitudes concerning abortion.

See it if You want to learn more about women's medical history. You want to support new work.

Don't see it if You want a polished product (it's trying to do too much right now, and is a bit muddy).

See it if you are interested in a historical tale of women & empowerment issues re.: birth control, abortion, midwifery in pre- Margaret Sanger days

Don't see it if You have strong moral/religious/political issues about women in "medicine": want to see uniformly polished acting

Also It was an enlightening story I had never heard before. I thought Jessica O'Hara-Baker as the protagonist was excellent. The women in the young cast were fine, but the 3 men were another story. The guys ranged from hammy to overacting & amateurish.
( Sorry, Luke- you were a cartoon District Attorney- just awful!)... Read more Read less

See it if To understand more about the history of women's rights and reproductive health in the US and to get inspired

Don't see it if If you are not open to seeing abortion as a way to protect women's health and economic liberty

See it if In late 19th century abortion & potions for it, were legal. Who knew? That woman's (who rose to become a multi millionaire) story & tragedy

Don't see it if It's clumsy-writer seems caught between actual court records & patching in rest of her story to fill play. Her personality/relations uneven~

See it if You are interested in the history of legal and illegal abortion in 1800’s New York personified by Madam Restell, immigrant & single mother.

Don't see it if The mixture of styles including musical interludes, Greek chorus and men playing women, actually quite well, is just too much. The story,

Also is based on an actual historical figure who gained notoriety and a huge fortune, assisting women in ending pregnancies or having their newborns adopted. The fresh-faced actors are appealing but not believable as hard-working, industrial-age New Yorkers. The young audience I saw it with for whom the story was an eye-opener, enjoyed it more than I did.... Read more Read less

See it if Interesting, unusual, unfamiliar subject matter done in a compelling way. absorbing performances.

Don't see it if you don't like actors playing more than one role, opposite sex, etc. Or, if actors talk directly to audience.

See it if you want to be surprised. This play was wickedly good. Entire cast was multi-talented and the production was tight with no glaring miscues

Don't see it if a biographical drama about a female abortionist in 19th century NYC would not interest you, but you would be missing a worthwhile night out.

See it if You are drawn to feminist-themed and/or historical works. This is a solid, intelligent, well-written, well-acted piece.

Don't see it if You have strong pro-life convictions. You are a highly unforgiving theater-goer. There’s some subpar acting. Could use tweaking.

Also This is a fascinating, thought-provoking work. O’Hara-Baker gives a stunning lead performance as Ann Lohman AKA Madame Restell, the notorious 19th century abortionist. Whether conveying strength, love, or anger, she’s always convincing. I’m never a fan of characters directly addressing the audience. I find it jarring and artificial. She makes those segments tolerable by being so compelling. The occasional singing is a nice touch, and manages to flow naturally in the story. Ms. Lohman’s tragic end is slightly mishandled. By disclosing her fate twice, it loses some of the impact. This is a quick fix. The show would also benefit from making Lohman less virtuous at the start. Her subsequent greed and conflict with her daughter come off as a bit out of character. The most glaring flaw is one picked up by other reviewers. All the actresses are fantastic, the men less so. Still, the good far outweighs the bad here. I would encourage anyone to go who isn’t completely put off by the subject.... Read more Read less

See it if You want to be surprised by a historical event that is deeply relevant with what’s happening now; strong leading actress;

Don't see it if You’re too sentive with abortion-related topics or are not into shows with strong political message;

See it if interested in a pioneer of women's reproductive health and choice. You like a biographical play dealing with relevant issues.

Don't see it if you feel you are entitled to control women's bodies, decision making, birth control, health care and reproduction.

Also Enjoyed the acting, song and staging. Slows a little after the angry mob.

This is more a biographical story about "Madame Restell" than it is intended to make statements or address all motivations to prosecute, and especially, for making the women testify, in detail.

The doctors' financial motivations were addressed-- and they went on to perform an estimated 2 million abortions after making it illegal, prosecuting, and trying to rid the country of midwives.

But it failed to address an issue that seems to line up with some of today's motivations. White, native-born, Protestant births were down in the late 1800's, immigration was booming. Would the country "be filled by our own children or by those of aliens? This is a question our women must answer; upon their loins depends the future destiny of the country." --physician and anti-abortion leader Horatio R. Storer 1868.... Read more Read less

See it if You like historical pieces. You like feminist pieces. The subject of a female abortionist in 1800s New York intrigues you.

Don't see it if The abortion theme puts you off. The acting is uneven. Very good as a whole, but some elements need work.

Also Jessica O’Hara-Baker is incredible as Madame Restell. She’s captivating from beginning to end. When concentrating on her rise to wealth as an abortionist, the play excels. The relationships with her daughter and husband are less interesting. Cut down their roles. The supporting actresses do a wonderful job, particularly Jasmin Walker. None of the male actors rise to their level. The end needs to be more powerful. I feel the director was afraid to go too dark. She should have. Still, for a small production, this was very impressive. This show has a lot of potential and is easily fixable.... Read more Read less

See it if you like true stories about historical women, shows without intermission, costume/period pieces and plays which features folk music.

Don't see it if you are pro-life, don't like biopic plays, need an intermission, crave accent consistency or will get distracted by a weak script.

See it if you like historical dramas or are passionate about women's equality or reproductive rights... or if you're a fan of Jessica O'Hara-Baker.

Don't see it if you prefer upbeat peppy shows or if you're squarely anti-choice.

Also For a small production this show is exquisite, with a nice big set, good lights and a stellar cast. Nice surprises included a little bit of gender bending and quite a bit of beautiful a capella singing.... Read more Read less