Liberation, by Bess Wohl, directed by Wendy C. Goldberg, is now playing at the James Earl Jones Theatre. The cast, although relatively unknown, delivers strong work. Broadway veteran Betsy Aidem, who plays Margie, delivers a standout performance. The ensemble has great chemistry, excellent timing, and isn’t afraid to take risks.
The play is receiving excellent reviews.
That said, there are eight characters onstage, and only about half feel fully realized. Considering the play runs two hours and thirty minutes, including a 15-minute intermission, it feels like there should have been more character depth and connection.
The piece is ensemble-driven, light on plot, and told through an unusual blend of memory, interview-style monologue, direct address, and fourth-wall-breaking. It transports us back to the 1970s and offers a compelling frame for the story, even if the structure drags.
There are genuinely funny moments, and at least one scene that earns emotional applause for sheer bravery. But there aren’t enough of those moments. Not enough hilarity. Not enough catharsis. Not enough emotional punch. There are glimmers of greatness, but only one or two of each emotional extreme.
Liberation on Broadway Feels Small
The play feels smaller than a typical Broadway production, almost as if it belongs Off-Broadway. Proof of that is in the theater itself. The upper level of the James Earl Jones Theatre is closed, and even on a Saturday matinee there was plenty of space. We walked up 20 minutes before curtain and bought $40 rush tickets in Row H of the orchestra.
The themes are meaningful. Women’s liberation. Equality. The echoes of the past reverberating into the present. There is value and nuance here. But when compared to one of the best feminist works of the past five years, the Tony-winning musical Suffs, Liberation simply does not measure up.
This is a comedy, but not consistently a funny one. More chuckles than belly laughs. And while chuckles are fine, they do not fully sustain a two-and-a-half-hour Broadway show.
Final assessment. This play will not shake the building or linger in your mind for long. You probably won’t regret seeing it, but you may feel unsatisfied once it ends.
Jitney Odometer: 81mph out of 100mph
Liberation, by Bess Wohl, directed by Wendy C. Goldberg, now playing at the James Earl Jones Theatre.
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