Trinity’s “The Inferior Sex” puts racism and sexism in its place

Theatre Review by Don Fowler
Posted 3/28/23

It is 1972 in the U.S.A.

Shirley Chisholm is causing a political uproar.

Woman are organizing and rebelling against sexism. Black women are rebelling against sexism and racism.

A group of …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

E-mail
Password
Log in

Trinity’s “The Inferior Sex” puts racism and sexism in its place

Posted

It is 1972 in the U.S.A.

Shirley Chisholm is causing a political uproar.

Woman are organizing and rebelling against sexism. Black women are rebelling against sexism and racism.

A group of white women are struggling to keep their uptown fashion magazine afloat.

Joan (Rachel Warren) brings her Black friend Gwen (Geri-Nicole Love) into the fold to add a different perspective to the content,

The white writers react in a variety of ways, from supportive to negative to naïve.

Ijeom Oluo wrote a book titled “So You Want to Talk About Race” that these characters needed to read, making faux pas galore and even wanting to touch her hair.

Anne Scurria plays Vera, the grumpy fashion editor who fights every new idea brought to the table.

Keep your eye out for Connie, the office cleaner (Angelique M.C-Dina) who is wiser than the others and bears a dark secret involving the editor’s (Rachel Dulude) father.

The women have problems dealing with change, handling both racism and sexism from their own perspective and upbringing.

“Insignificant” remarks come across as offensive to Gwen (If you read Oluo’s book you will understand why).

Some of the faux pas come across as funny to the audience, but not so to Gwen who has heard them all her life.

While the play has plenty of humor-a food editor who can’t cook-it also spends a lot of time dealing with cliches with subtle references to sexism and racism.

Playwright Jaquelin E. Lawton interjects speeches by Shirley Chisholm (brilliantly portrayed by Jackie Davis) and even gives us a song and a dance to break the tension.

Once again, outstanding acting at Trinity is the mainstay.

“The Inferior Sex” runs through April 16 in the downstairs Dowling Theatre.

For reservations, call 351-4242.

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here