Women Behind Bars
 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (July 2011) |
| Women Behind Bars | |
|---|---|
| Written by | Tom Eyen |
| Date premiered | May 1, 1975 |
| Place premiered | Astor Place Theatre New York City |
| Original language | English |
| Genre | Camp |
Women Behind Bars is a camp black comedy play by Tom Eyen, parodying the prison exploitation films produced by Universal, Warner Bros. and Republic Pictures during the 1950s.
Plot
[edit]Set in the Women's House of Detention in Greenwich Village, there is, among the range of women, an innocent young woman, a chain-smoking street-wise tough girl, and a delicate Southern belle reminiscent of Blanche DuBois. The innocent was framed by her husband on a charge of armed robbery, and is brutalized, betrayed and sexually assaulted throughout her eight-year sentence. She is ultimately broken by the system and leaves jail as a hard-edged, gum-chomping drug dealer. These women are overseen by the prison's sadistic matron and her henchman.
Productions
[edit]Original 1975 production
[edit]The original production at the off-Broadway Astor Place Theatre opened on May 1, 1975, featuring Pat Ast, Helen Hanft, Mary-Jennifer Mitchell and Sharon Barr. Alan Eichler was co-producer and press representative.[1]
1976 revival
[edit]The play was revived in 1976 at the Truck and Warehouse Theatre in New York with Pink Flamingos star Divine as the matron.[1] It quickly developed a cult following and became a success.[2]
1977 London production
[edit]In 1977 the play, again starring Divine as the matron, had a successful run at the Whitehall Theatre in the West End of London. Fiona Richmond co-starred.[3]
1983 revival
[edit]The play was revived once again in Los Angeles in 1983, directed by Ron Link and featuring Lu Leonard, Adrienne Barbeau and Sharon Barr. The LA production ran for almost a year, first at the Cast Theater and then moving to the Roxy Theatre.[4] Sally Kellerman and Linda Blair later joined the cast.
2012 live reading
[edit]On May 7, 2012, The New Group presented a reading of the play, directed by Scott Elliott.[5][6]
- Cast
- Charles Busch as the matron
- Halley Feiffer as Mary-Eleanor
- Janeane Garofalo as Louise
- Nancy Giles as Jo-Jo
- Josh Hamilton as the men
- Natasha Lyonne as Cheri
- Cynthia Nixon as Blanche
- Rosie O'Donnell as Gloria
- Daphne Rubin-Vega as Guadalupe
- Rhea Perlman as Granny and The Warden
- Jennifer Tilly as Ada
2020 Revival
[edit]A large-scale revival played the Montalbán Theatre in Los Angeles in January, 2020, presented by Winbrook Productions and "Just Pow" Productions.[7][8] The production was conceived and directed by Scott Thompson.[9] A new title song and background score was composed by Fred Barton.
- Cast
- Kathy Griffin, Host
- Traci Lords as Gloria
- Eureka O'Hara as the Matron
- Mink Stole as Granny and The Warden
- Miss Coco Peru as Louise
- Ginger Minj as Ada
- Chi Chi DeVayne as Jo-Jo
- Suzie Kennedy as Cheri
- Poppy Fields as Blanche
- Wesley Woods as The Men
- Adrienne Couper Smith as Mary-Eleanor
- Tatiana Monteiro as Guadalupe
Contemporary
[edit]Women Behind Bars continues to be produced by gay repertory companies, such as San Francisco's Theatre Rhinoceros.[10]
Reception
[edit]The subtle lesbianism apparent in the original B movies is emphasized comedically throughout. The New York Times described the play as "an extraordinarily interesting work from one of America's most innovative and versatile playwrights."[11]
Sequel
[edit]Eyen and Divine wrote a 1978 follow-up play called The Neon Woman, which was produced in New York and San Francisco.[12]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Women Behind Bars at the Internet Off-Broadway Database.
- ^ "Divine on stage and screen". www.dreamlandnews.com. Retrieved 2018-03-20.
- ^ ""Women Behind Bars" 1977 Whitehall Theatre program". www.picclick.co.uk/. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
- ^ "Louder than Words: Ron Link, 1944-1999". Obituary in LA Weekly. June 9, 1999. Accessed December 5, 2013.
- ^ "Broadway Buzz Announcement". www.broadway.com. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
- ^ ""Women Behind Bars" Photo Gallery". www.broadway.com. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
- ^ "Montálban Theatre Event Page". www.themontalban.com. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
- ^ "Broadwayworld Reviews Women Behind Bars". www.broadwayworld.com. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
- ^ "Scott Thompson IMDb". www.imdb.com. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
- ^ "Talkin' Broadway Regional News & Reviews: San Francisco – "Women Behind Bars – 3/25/02". www.talkinbroadway.com. Retrieved 2018-03-20.
- ^ Frank, Leah D. (27 May 1984). "Theater Review; PRISON SATIRE WITH BITTER LAUGHS". The New York Times. Retrieved 2018-03-20.
- ^ Gussow, Mel (17 April 1978). "'The Neon Woman' By Eyen Is Staged". The New York Times. Retrieved 2021-06-03.