After the uproar around Bill Burr‘s recent SNL monologue taking white women to task for their role in upholding institutional racism, a YouTube clip of Burr complaining about Michelle Obama in particular and First Ladies in general made the social media rounds. “When did First Ladies start acting like they got elected?” bellowed Burr. “To be the First Lady, that’s not a fucking job. Just standing there smiling and waving.”Maybe Burr should carve out about 100 minutes to watch the Neo-Futurists’ latest, 45 Plays for America’s First Ladies, to get a wider perspective on what the role entails. Because while it’s indisputable that First Ladies don’t get elected (thanks to the Electoral College, even when they run on their own steam, apparently), they sure as shit have a job. Or they sure have a shit job. Take your pick.
The stories told inevitably intersect with America’s structural racism. By the time we get to Eliza Johnson (Andie Patterson), wife of the terrible president who succeeded Abraham Lincoln, we’re reminded that, out of the collective 1,000 enslaved people owned by the first 17 First Ladies (give or take—John Tyler’s two wives and assorted other female family members skew the curve), we only have heard two of their names. Sexism is certainly present, even as Abigail Adams (Gallo-Bayiates) tells her husband to “remember the ladies.” (Though the real Abigail probably meant the white wives of landowners, not ALL women.)
Even those who tried to hide their light have their poignant moments here. Louisa Adams (Johnston), wife of John Quincy, was a recluse who suffered from depression, but also was known for her intellect and directness of discourse, which stood apart among distaff dissemblers of her era. She wrote her life story and entitled it Adventures of a Nobody. It was never published. Burr might be fine with that. I’d like to read it.
The story mostly follows the outlines of the original, with some contemporary and regional flourishes. Isabel is separated from H.G. and tries to flee the invaders through the streets of Chicago with her sister, Shelly (Ming Hudson). (For local color, we get references to Miller’s Pub, the DuSable Bridge, and a lake escape involving an architectural tour boat.) As H.G. writes down the terrible events as they unfold, Isabel takes pictures. A narrator tries to piece together what happened from the seemingly unrelated images and words, discovered after the attack.
45 Plays for America’s First Ladies; available online anytime with purchase through 11/2, neofuturists.org, $15.A War of the Worlds, through 11/21, Tue-Sat 8 PM, Sun 7 PM, theatreinthedark.com, $20-$25 suggested donation.
