Women Without Men at Mint Theater Company

Mint's production of Women Without Men was its first revival since its first two-week run in Dublin in 1938-and its American Premiere. "Hazel Ellis's Women Without Men, produced by the Mint Theater Company at City Center, concentrates on a group of unmarried women who have stayed school teachers out of helplessness or inertia rather than any calling or passion. Deprived of much freedom and many comforts (they have one afternoon off per week and hot baths are a rationed luxury), they turn on one another, fanning trifling grievances, exaggerating minor slights. A newcomer to the school, the still idealistic Miss Wade (Emily Walton), marvels, 'Why should we all unite in making each other's lives a little hell of trivial tortures?'" said The New York Times. Notably, it continued Mint's efforts to produce the work of forgotten female dramatists. "For me, it's the plays written by women that have resonated the most. MAYbe because the pay-off is sweeter: these women had descended into an obscurity even more pitch-black than that of the male writers produced by the Mint - if it's hard for female writers to make it to the stage, it's even harder for their works to be revived. This production shows the Mint doing what it does best: finding long-lost works that remain remarkably stage-worthy today," said David Barbour in Lighting and Sound America. Jenn Thompson directed an all-female cast that includes Mary Bacon, Joyce Cohen, Shannon Harrington, Kate Middleton, Aedin Moloney, Alexa Shae Niziak, Kellie Overbey, Dee Pelletier, Beatrice Tulchin, Emily Walton, and Amelia White. Women Without Men was nominated for five Drama Desk Awards, including Outstanding Revival of a Play, Outstanding Featured Actress for Kellie Overbey, and Outstanding Director for Jenn Thompson.