Women On Fire: Stories from the Frontlines

See it if You like one person monologue plays. Though there are 16 actors they each deliver a monologue that helps build a tapestry when completed.

Don't see it if You’re a misogynist. This is a stunning piece of work but it’s told from women’s point of view, which just seems like truth to me.

See it if to hear symbolic voices of contrasting 21st C women in a series of heartfelt, provocative, empowering monologs that mostly avoid moralizing.

Don't see it if you are a misogynist. [Or maybe you should, if only to open your eyes & ears to the issues too many women have suppressed for too long.]

Also One should seize any opportunity to see Kathleen Chalfant in performance... and she -- along with the literal fire on stage -- really scorches and lights up the stage, as always.... Read more Read less

See it if you would like to see 16 very powerful women performers deliver sometimes powerful stories, speeches & cries from the heart.

Don't see it if you are looking for a play: this is 90 minutes of direct address from 16 powerful performers, separated by short dance sequences.

Also A delay between seating the audience & the start of the performance of “Women on Fire: Stories from the Frontlines” on the night I saw it gave me several minutes to watch 16 powerful actors seated across the deep space of a sacristy. From across a range of ages & races, these women radiated life. It was my favorite part of the night. Many of the 16 monologs they’d later deliver were strong—personal stories, speeches, cries from the heart, diverse material collected from the field. Short dance sequences separated monologs; dancers also struck appropriate figures during the monologs. After a while a sameness set in when the pattern didn’t vary. Because there’s no dialog, problematic material (defending blatant objectification of women’s bodies in a sorority hazing, blaming white women for their sexual assaults) goes unchallenged. Ecumenism has its uses. But here it undercut a climactic fire ritual: these women had seemed a more united force when, being themselves, they simply sat.... Read more Read less

See it if You want an array of monologues from the words of & performed by women. You want terrific acting.

Don't see it if You don't want politically left POVs. You want more professional polish:awkward open& end speeches+praise fishing detract from the show.

See it if you would enjoy a powerful presentation on the issue of the day from many vantage points. Faces the truth with humor, sadness, good acting.

Don't see it if you are not open to listening to different points of view presented in ways that delight and challenge.

See it if 80 min of monologues by various women, some very well acted by top actresses. Tales of hurt, political tales, etc.

Don't see it if Dance interludes were amateurish; mixed bag of actresses. Strong incense created a funky unpleasant smell. Harsh lighting at times.

See it if Want to hear differing perspectives of contemporary women told in short monologues by a skilled group of actors. And oh! Dancers, too.

Don't see it if Want linear story told traditionally. Lots of emoting, including rage, yet little story arc. Diverse, raw, & may be uncomfortable for some.

Also SPOILER: The format is that all 16 actors are seated on chairs upstage when you walk into the black box space (and after having climbed 4 flights of old stairs.) Each one comes forward and speaks her monologue and a group of excellent dancers form a terpsichorean counterpoint to the words. As the cast occasionally changes, or their "parts" get switched around, many are reading from an individualized script that forms the basis for a symbolic fire ritual at the end.

The actors are not introduced and are listed alphabetically with equal weight in the program. Yes, Kathleen Chalfant is one of the fine actors appearing in all the performances (as I understand it.) but rotates in and out of the most prominent role.

Saw this at the Royal Performing Arts Theatre, a black box space in an old church 1/2 blk from Times Square.... Read more Read less

See it if Fifteen feminist monologues accompanied by a quartet of dancers, most were well-written and dramatically performed. Important issues.

Don't see it if You have trouble walking up 50 steps from street to stage level.

See it if This is a MUST see for WOMEN and the men that want to understand and respect them.

Don't see it if you can’t walk 4 flights of stairs, (no elevator)however if you can make the 4 flights this is a must see I don’t care what you want or like

See it if You’re into women issues as told in monologues

Don't see it if You want to see a play. Not a series of monologues.

See it if you’re frustrated with the way things are; will be motivated, rather than depressed, by women reacting to how little progress has been made.

Don't see it if uninterested in a call to arms for women who already want more change. It's not for proselytizing anyone who needs convincing.

Also I especially appreciate that the show avoids sob stories—none of the women are made to ask for pity. My favorite monologues are the ones that go after the entertainment industry and well-meaning social media trends.

What struck me was that so many of the monologues are conversations I’ve actually had w/ other women or overheard in real life. The stories and opinions aren’t unique in themselves; but in stacking one after another, a true-to-life pattern of self-assured yet infuriatingly immobilized women emerges. Women On Fire’s focused criticism of corporate-cultural-political interests seems repetitive…until it’s compared to the countless cultural messages instructing women to direct their anger inward toward themselves or toward other women.... Read more Read less

See it if you're interested in a variety of stories from women with different cultural, political and socio-economic backgrounds, plus dance elements.

Don't see it if You want a fully staged play with a complete story arc, or you are not interested in the stories of women.

See it if you can endure 65 min. wining regurgitation of same old “what women don’t want” for 10 min. of 2-3 insightful vignettes and decent dancing

Don't see it if you read or otherwise are familiar w/ debates re women-impacted issues for the last 50 years, don’t need/want dumbing down, want plot/climax

Also I found gratuitous inclusion of segment re entitled Miami-Cuban woman who forgot or never knew why Castro was able to recruit have nots to his revolution and the reality that many Cubans enjoy their lives in Cuba has nothing to do with women’s issues, and most of the actors being “on book,” insulting to my intelligence.... Read more Read less

See it if A must see for women & other human beings; powerful performances, scathing relevant & honest from 20 amazing women of wide experience & age.

Don't see it if You’ve no interest in women—their treatment, issues or concerns; or think the state & tone of US & world politics towards them is just fine.

Also In this moment of fire and fury,
of mendacity and fake facts, let alone fake news, a show like this is as refreshing as it is necessary,
a reminder of what it is to be alive and of the moment, in the moment.

Stories like these from a range of anonymous women from all walks is a check on complacency, and this cast, ranging from newcomers to well known stage veterans creates a surprising ensemble, helped in no small measure by the four terrific dancers who perform Lorna Ventura’s inventive choreography with individual style and wit.

For a play intended to be raw and not at all perfect, there are some pretty perfect things about the evening. Catch it while you can.... Read more Read less

See it if you like new works, political plays, raw productions, simple sets, good acting.

Don't see it if you dislike political plays;prefer a play w/a plot to a series of vignettes;dislike all female casts; dislike watching scripts being read.

Also There was less diversity of opinion and experience in this play than advertised. The fact there was any in a NYC political play was refreshing, but I would not recommend this play to political conservatives.... Read more Read less

See it if you feel enraged & impotent by the state of affairs in our country today; are concerned re.: the impact on women's lives from all viewpoints

Don't see it if You cannot tolerate angry & vocal women at odds with the system & each other, sounding off; cannot climb 3 flights of rickety stairs

Also This is not a play, but a series of brief 'monologues,' by 15+ women; kudos to the director & the choreographer: there are 4 wonderful dancers, enhancing the spoken words without intruding into the smooth flow of the performance. Well done, one & all! (Oh, and the great actresses Kathleen Chalfant & Mary Testa )... Read more Read less

See it if Women’s stories told through monologues by powerful actresses intercut and enhanced by dance sequences; moving and powerful voices

Don't see it if You need a more dramatic narrative or don’t want to understand women’s rage and frustration in this moment

See it if You want to see real stories told by a solid cast

Don't see it if You're not interested in women's stories or don't like fog effecrs

See it if Like outstanding imaginative dancing that unscores the themes. Uneven, but generally very good cast, presents several thoughtful issues.

Don't see it if Tired of still another diatribe against Trump. Tries to deal with too many issues. Some pieces condescending and objectionable.

See it if You want to hear women’s view on current affairs (President, Me too movement, harrasment in work place) some great actors were the voice

Don't see it if You do not like experemintal theatre, or hear provocative, angry words from actors. This is not traditional, so do not expect such.

See it if you want to see a really cool incorporation of dance into storytelling centered around women's experiences.

Don't see it if you're looking for an even treatment.

See it if interesting blend of dancing with the womens statements, some good acting

Don't see it if you don't want to hear about women's issues

See it if If you want to hear diverse voices of women standing up against oppression and sexism through brief confessions.

Don't see it if You want to see a traditional play.

See it if You are angry and sick of our current administration, and You want to see talented performers and wonderful dancers.

Don't see it if you don't like thought provoking, angry monologues that confront many issues but mostly our current administration.

See it if the thoughts of diverse female characters about issues of current relevance and accompanied by creative choreography would appeal to you.

Don't see it if you are not interested in women's issues or in a series of vignettes that present disparate opinions.