Review: History Unfolds in THE PILL at Phoenix Theatre

"Womanhood shouldn't always mean motherhood." The line from Tom Horan's new play about the invention of the birth control pill is sure to start some interesting conversations. Horan is The Phoenix Theatre's playwright-in-residence and this is the world premiere of The Pill. The show is performed by an all-female quintet of characters, including the infamous Margaret Sanger.

The play packs a powerful punch and I was left reeling with the realization of just how far we've come. With the invention of birth control, women truly gained control of their own lives. I loved seeing the messiness of the process. Horan doesn't present it as an easy, quick path to success. Instead it's a fight with red-tape issues, funding problems and FDA hoops that must be jumped through. These things aren't exhausting to watch though, because he tempers the hassles with humor, sprinkling in clever lines. It's obviously well-researched, but instead of overwhelming us with the history and facts, it's character-driven and relatable.

Constance Macy shines as the strong-willed Sanger. She clearly has her own demons, but her passion for her work rises above her personal struggles. Sadie Sachs (Jenni White) reminds us of the heart of the story whenever things get sidetracked by science. She is a mother, burdened with too many children and no way to prevent more. Arianne Villareal plays the biologist Gregory Pincus with an endearing neurotic earnestness. That performance is balanced perfectly by Jen Johansen as Dr. John Rock. She is condescending and charming in equal parts. Jan Lucas rounds out the cast as financier Katharine McCormick.

The brand new stage (this is its first show) provides four entrance and exit points. The production is in constant motion as the cast wheels tables and chairs on and off stage. Director Bill Simmons handles the constant motion deftly, providing stillness to give other moments gravitas. Seating is on all four sides of the stage, which brings the audience into the performance. Whenever I see a show performed in the round I can't help but watch the reaction of other audience members throughout the show. That worked beautifully in this production as the play's content is meant to fuel strong reactions.

The play includes adult language and is meant for adults. If you find yourself wishing to see a bit more about the world before birth control or what one might look like if women lost some of their rights, I'd encourage you to check out the show "Call the Midwife" on Netflix or the Hulu's series, "The Handmaid's Tale" (or better yet, read the book). It's been just over half a century since birth control became widely available and yet it's easy for the next few generations to forget what a huge stride that was.

For more information about The Phoenix Theatre, visit www.phoenixtheatre.org. The theater is located at 705 N Illinois St, Indianapolis, IN 46204.

Performances: The show until June 10 and offers four performances a week. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday shows begin at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday matinees are at 2:30 p.m.

Tickets: To purchase tickets, call (317) 635-7529 or visit phoenixtheatre.org. Prices range from $24 to $37.

Photos courtesy of Zach Rosing.

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