Director's Notes on Love, Loss & What I Wore
- Erin Riley, Director
In 2005, ten years after the debut of her first book, Ilene Beckerman (the real-life Gingy) wrote a follow-up called Makeovers at the Beauty Counter of Happiness. In it, she says “During my life, I've spent thousands of hours and thousands of dollars on my hair, my makeup, and my clothes, trying to look prettier because I grew up believing that pretty girls had happier lives. I'd be a lot happier now if I had that time and that money back." It’s the witty, sock-you-in-the-gut with truth quips like this one that caused me to fall head over heels for Love, Loss, and What I Wore, and the cast and crew are positively overjoyed to share the tears, the laughs, and the relatable relationships here with you tonight.
It’s no secret I am in the throes of an unabashedly passionate love affair with live performance art featuring strong feminine perspectives. It has been 356 years since Margaret Hughes took the Vere Street Theatre stage in London as Desdemona in Othello, effectively shattering the barrier that kept women off of the boards, and breathing new life into art by adding the valuable experiences of the female viewpoint. We’ve come a long way from 1662, but the fact remains we are always on a journey towards equality and acceptance. The stories of women, and those who identify as women, are as entertaining as they are important, and are wholly worthy of being told often with the joy of an eager audience. Thank you for being that audience.
The ten women you see tonight come from all different backgrounds. Some have skin that is delightfully melanin-rich; others are prone to the Eastern European blight of sunburn within five minutes of walking outside. Some are thin, some are thick. Some are tall, others short. But they are the perfect mix of your mother, your sister, your auntie, your best friend, your daughter, or any other woman who has made an impact on your life. They are thrilled to tell you their stories tonight. We hope they give you a laugh (or five or ten) and fill your heart the way these characters have filled ours.
It’s no secret I am in the throes of an unabashedly passionate love affair with live performance art featuring strong feminine perspectives. It has been 356 years since Margaret Hughes took the Vere Street Theatre stage in London as Desdemona in Othello, effectively shattering the barrier that kept women off of the boards, and breathing new life into art by adding the valuable experiences of the female viewpoint. We’ve come a long way from 1662, but the fact remains we are always on a journey towards equality and acceptance. The stories of women, and those who identify as women, are as entertaining as they are important, and are wholly worthy of being told often with the joy of an eager audience. Thank you for being that audience.
The ten women you see tonight come from all different backgrounds. Some have skin that is delightfully melanin-rich; others are prone to the Eastern European blight of sunburn within five minutes of walking outside. Some are thin, some are thick. Some are tall, others short. But they are the perfect mix of your mother, your sister, your auntie, your best friend, your daughter, or any other woman who has made an impact on your life. They are thrilled to tell you their stories tonight. We hope they give you a laugh (or five or ten) and fill your heart the way these characters have filled ours.