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Women Behind Bars

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Women Behind Bars
Written byTom Eyen
Date premieredMay 1, 1975 (1975-05-01)
Place premieredAstor Place Theatre
New York City
Original languageEnglish
GenreCamp

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

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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

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Original 1975 production

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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

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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

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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

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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

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On May 7, 2012, The New Group presented a reading of the play, directed by Scott Elliott.[5][6]

Cast

2020 Revival

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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

Contemporary

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Women Behind Bars continues to be produced by gay repertory companies, such as San Francisco's Theatre Rhinoceros.[10]

Reception

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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

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Eyen and Divine wrote a 1978 follow-up play called The Neon Woman, which was produced in New York and San Francisco.[12]

References

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  1. ^ a b ​Women Behind Bars​ at the Internet Off-Broadway Database.
  2. ^ "Divine on stage and screen". www.dreamlandnews.com. Retrieved 2018-03-20.
  3. ^ ""Women Behind Bars" 1977 Whitehall Theatre program". www.picclick.co.uk/. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  4. ^ "Louder than Words: Ron Link, 1944-1999". Obituary in LA Weekly. June 9, 1999. Accessed December 5, 2013.
  5. ^ "Broadway Buzz Announcement". www.broadway.com. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  6. ^ ""Women Behind Bars" Photo Gallery". www.broadway.com. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  7. ^ "Montálban Theatre Event Page". www.themontalban.com. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  8. ^ "Broadwayworld Reviews Women Behind Bars". www.broadwayworld.com. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  9. ^ "Scott Thompson IMDb". www.imdb.com. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  10. ^ "Talkin' Broadway Regional News & Reviews: San Francisco – "Women Behind Bars – 3/25/02". www.talkinbroadway.com. Retrieved 2018-03-20.
  11. ^ Frank, Leah D. (27 May 1984). "Theater Review; PRISON SATIRE WITH BITTER LAUGHS". The New York Times. Retrieved 2018-03-20.
  12. ^ Gussow, Mel (17 April 1978). "'The Neon Woman' By Eyen Is Staged". The New York Times. Retrieved 2021-06-03.
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