Solidarity Forever-Our Unions will make us Strong
Suspenseful Historical Play with a Message.
As a reviewer, I seem to have hit the jackpot this weekend. Not only was I invited to Blue Hour’s The Plague Master General, but also to Rainy Day Artistic Collective’s The Triangle Factory Fire Project, two brilliant, enjoyable shows about corruption produced by two small promising companies. The latter, written by Christopher Piehler with Scott Alan Evan was staged at TPS’s Theatre 4. This first-rate script was directed with balletic precision by Jack Seamus Conley.
The Triangle Factory Fire Project is based on an historical event, the Triangle Shirtwaist factory fire of 1911 and its aftermath, which was the catalyst for better safety legislation in New York State and the nation. In that fire, caused by management negligence and malevolence, 146 people were killed, mostly young immigrant women garment workers between the ages of 14 and 23.
Before the play began, the audience was treated to a medley of old-fashioned labor song such as “When I joined the Union they called me a Russian Red, “ “Join the CIO” “ We Shall not be Moved,”(which we sang in the 1950’s and 60’s at Civil Rights marches) “Solidarity Forever, Our Union will Make us Strong,” and a whole host of other uplifting tunes.
Structurally, the play resembles a TV “docudrama.” That is to say it ”uses eyewitness accounts, court transcripts and other archival material,” to create narration along with dramatized scenes. The narration was incredibly creative, because it often used the whole cast, reciting newspapers headlines, advertisement and articles from the era. These scenes, were compelling because the subject matter of the headlines suggested the basic conflict driving the plot of the play and the causes of the disaster.
Generally the women in the ensemble read ads and fashion tips, while the men read more serious headlines, about labor issues, fear of hordes of immigrants or the disaster. This technique, interspersed with the dramatic scenes, acted like a Greek chorus commenting on the action, creating tension and an almost musical dissonance between capitalism’s wish to make money and the consequences of being solely focused on profits.
Act I covered the union agitation approximately two years before the fire in 1909, when the ILGWU (International Ladies Garment Workers Union) went on strike, supported by wealthy suffragettes. It was stirring stuff to see someone act out Samuel Gompers, (Brad Cook) the founder of the AFL. Later, as a result of the ruthless union busting and the refusal of the management of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory to implement safety measures, various scenes from the actual fire are re-enacted.
Act II was the aftermath, mostly the trial of the owners, and the wrap up, when the audience learns that in fact evil did prevail in the court room, and beyond. In reality the investigation of the fire led to legislative reforms. Although the subject matter of The Triangle Factory Project is, quite frankly, grizzly, it was also a spellbinding tale. I never once flinched because the violence was never gratuitous. The extremely challenging script is a gem; under the direction of Jack Conley it sparkled for the full 2½ hours.
The cast of 10 people played 30 different roles, but there was never any difficulty believing who was who, even with minimal costume changes because they effectively changed their personas and often their accents. Dialect coach Grace Helmcke managed to coach New York, Yiddish, Italian, and Irish accents expertly.
Although everybody in the cast put in stellar performances, stand-outs were Eli Svoboda as the main journalist, who was responsible for a lot of the narration. His mixture of hard-boiled journalistic detachment alongside overwhelming emotion added just the right touch. Skye Farrell was amazing in a variety of roles but especially as Max Steuer, the sleezy, slimy, sold-out despicable lawyer for the defense. His performance justified every snarky joke about lawyers you have ever heard. (Apologies to ethical lawyers out there)
Somto Muo, who played the best friend of a seamstress, who perished dramatically in the fire, was made into mincemeat at the trial by Steuer, the slimy lawyer, delivered a heartfelt monologue towards the end of the show, about the real reason the workers cannot get justice. The public ultimately allows it. Having incredible stage presence, she spoke with authority, while having a very tangible connection with the audience.
While she was speaking I could not help but think of our own backyard. With Boeing, amazon and Starbucks busting unions, putting their workers and the public in jeopardy and silencing whistle blowers, her monologue hit home.
The Triangle Factor Project was one of the most impressive and inspiring plays it has been my pleasure to review in 14 years. It is a must see, not only for the message, but also for the riveting drama and suspense. After the show, the audience gathered in the small lobby to congratulate the director and the actors; I was among them.
I would get your tickets immediately. It is liable to be sold out.
The Triangle Factory Project Rainy Day Artistic Collective TPS Theatre 4. Fourth Floor Center House (Armory) Seattle Center. Fri, Sat eve 7 pm. Sun matinée 2pm. Til April 21.
Tickets: https://events.humanitix.com/the-triangle-factory-fire-project
Transportation: Take the light rail to Westlake, then the elevator to the Monorail, there is a covered walkway to the Center House. Go to the South entrance and take the elevator to the 4th Floor.
Bus #8 from Capitol Hill, and Mt. Baker Transit Center to the Pacific Science Center and walk across Seattle Center.
Expensive parking garages, some off street parking, on the Mercer side of Seattle Center.