Gloria Steinem herself came out in the last twenty minutes of Gloria: A Lifeto lead the “talking circle,” an unscripted conversation with the audience. This was the officially designated Act II of a moving, enlightening and inspiring show whose 100-minute Act I starred Christine Lahti in Emily Mann’s script about the life and work of the famous feminist, journalist, activist, co-founder of Ms. Magazine and one-time Playboy Bunny.

The presence of this Act II helps drive home how beside the point it would be to assess Gloria as if it were a conventional bio-drama. It isn’t. It’s half storytelling, half consciousness-raising — a support group in trying times. “Social justice movements start with people sitting in a circle, like this,” Lahti says at the outset, indicating the in-the-round stadium seating.

Full review at DC Theatre Scene

Click on any photograph by Joan Marcus to see it enlarged and read the caption.

Christine Lahti as Gloria Steinem

Christine Lahti, DeLanna Studi, Liz Wisan, Fedna Jacquet and Francesca Fernandez-McKenzie as Playboy Bunnies

Patrena Murray and Christine Lahti with the actual Flo Kennedy projected above them.

Joanna Glushak, Fedna Jacquet, Francesca Fernandez McKenzie, Christine Lahti, Patrena Murray, DeLanna Studi and Liz Wisan

Joanna Glushak, Christine Lahti, Fedna Jacquet and Francesca Fernandez McKenzie

Christine Lahti as Gloria Steinem and Joanna Glushak as Bella Abzug

Joanna Glushak as Gloria Steinem’s mother and Christine Lahti as Gloria Steinem

Christine Lahti as Gloria Steinem

The cast as demonstrators, in front of a projection of the actual Gloria Steinem at a demonstration.