The Business of Being Born

I tried to convince my sidekick, The Boy Thunder, to bring his new wife to the play "Birth" at Edgewood United Church in East Lansing. Tonight was the first of two performances with the second one taking place on Saturday, October 4th, at 7 p.m.

Alas, the Boy Thunder and Mrs. Thunder took a pass tonight; they had other plans. Maybe that was a good thing, especially since the Boy Thunder tee-hee'd like at second grader through the production of The Full Monty earlier this year.

If the Thunders and others can make it to the second performance on Saturday night, they will not be disappointed with this dramatic production. "Birth" is an outstanding play with 13 "volunteers" -- as the director described the actors who devoted time to the production -- giving voice to women characters who discuss their experiences in the American maternity-industrial complex. The same topic was addressed in the excellent documentary, "The Business of Being Born," which I wrote about earlier this year here. As I said then, I think anyone who has given birth or plans to give birth, or who has ever been born -- that is everyone, including men and the medical establishment -- should see this play if you get a chance. The play amounts to activist art as its very best.

Here are the details of the second night's performance:

"Birth"
Written by Karen Brody
Directed by Maria-Danielle Casinelli
October 4th
Edgewood United Church
464 N. Hagadorn Road
East Lansing, Michigan
Admission: $8 - $12
Community panel discussion follows the play.