←Recommendations of WHORTICULTURE

This is a difficult play to watch and I believe an even more difficult play to write. Brava, Emma, for introducing us to these young women who have been hurt by incest and then bring pain and domination to each other. i saw a recent performance by Quarantine Players, well done, all.

When we talk of holding the mirror up to society, this is what we mean. Goldman-Sherman's play is a necessary, uncomfortable masterwork on the patriarchic warping of our culture and the toxicity it shunts onto young girls and women from day one. It does not pull the punches. It is a fearless play. It feels like a revelation, and it hurts that it feels like one. The three characters command every moment of this script, and you could stage it so inventively and so many ways on the literal (and metaphorical) playground. You need to stage this play. Everywhere.

Emma Goldman-Sherman has crafted a brilliantly complex and resonant play about the dangerous normalization of all levels of patriarchal culture--from the centering of men in our politics and power to the sexual abuse of young girls. The play highlights one of the most painful aspects of the normalization: the way young girls internalize patterns of oppression and recapitulate them until tragedy forces confrontation and possible change. The play itself - through jumps in chronology, plasticity in roleplaying, juxtaposition of styles, and brilliant theatricality - does the same for the audience, making strange and therefore clear these patterns. Astonishing and heartbreaking.

Considering everything that is happening in our society right now with the #MeToo movement, and hyperawareness of gender roles and gender politics, WHORTICULTURE is an extremely important play! Goldman-Sherman never backs away from showing the ugly truth of sexual abuse and misogyny in a racist world. WHORTICULTURE is a social issue play at its most powerful, and I truly hope this piece can be part of our society's edification and healing. Gender study departments should consider making this part of their curriculum!

Boldly theatrical, intersectionally-rich, uncompromising, and full of pathos, comedy, tragedy, terror...a whiplash of powerful moments. The pliability of space and time give this piece an expansive, impressionistic feel, and the order in which we learn things about these three women throughout their girlhood, young adulthood, and adulthood is so incredibly impactful. Goldman-Sherman's acrobatic language that vacillates between lyrical poetry, theatrical collage, and naturalistic banter is engrossing. The extended metaphor of plants/flowers is so brilliant in its execution and supportive of this examination of the toxicity and deleterious impact of misogyny, racism, and sexualization on all women.

I was moved while watching a powerful virtual performance of this play through Cybertank with Quarantine Players. The difficult subject matter of the main narrative unfolds slowly, interspersed with spoken word pieces that comment on elements of our culture that shape, limit, and warp the development of young girls. How do we combat something so ubiquitous and normalized as misogyny? How do we fight for the inherent humanity of women and girls? I'm grateful that this play is part of that conversation.

"If I were a man." The prejudices against women and the overwhelming waters of sexuality and the pressure to conform these prejudices are tackled with fierce and unapologetic strength. Powerful and vital!

A bold and daring play! A jungle-gym of language and imagery. A powerful piece!

This play is a punch in the gut and so vital. Produce this play and get your community talking.

Oof. This play. Daring and truthful and LOUD AND UNASHAMED. And hard. But necessary. I loved it, please read!