Christin Eve Cato in rehearsal for “OK!” At the Intar theater.

Emotions are raised behind the scenes during a bilingual tour out of brand Rodgers & Hammerstein Classic Okaa Oklahoma! In Christin Eve Cato's Wild, Frank New Play GOOD! (at New York Theater intar May 10 to June 8), Melinda, an actor, discovers that she is pregnant and has doubts at the idea. His casting comrades – Young, Salty Elena and Soulful, Jaded Jolie – have a lot of opinions to share, just like some supernatural visitors. The capture of farming in challenges: this production of Okaa Oklahoma! is on a stop of the tour in its title state, which has just promulgated the strictest abortion of the country.

During the summer of 2022, Dobbs' decision canceled ROE v. Wade, but Oklahoma legislators had in fact beaten it, completely prohibit abortion in the state a month ago. As Cato remembers, “I watch the news, and the governor of Oklahoma televised this event as if it was a major achievement, sign this prohibition of abortion, and people celebrate. It rubbed me in such a way. ”

This in itself may not have inspired a room, but Cato then noticed a strange coincidence: that the visit of the stripped renewal of Daniel Fish of Okaa Oklahoma! was done “Some mixed criticisms” On the road. She thought back to her interpretation of the song Signature of Ado Annie, “I cain't say no”, at the Laguardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts. As Ali Stroker And others have shown that song can be a kind of positive sexual anthem, but that's not what it felt for Cato, 15. “I remember thinking:” It's such a terrible song. I can either play this as a victim, or I can have my sexuality “-which I didn't even have yet,” she said. “So I just played as if I were a slut.”

Cato does not want GOOD! To preach to the public, even if she has to take a point to take away. “The message of the piece is not:” We must all be pro-Choix “, or that you are either pro-you, or you are pro-life,” she said. “No, you just have to be pro-liberation.”

Rob Weinert-Kendt (he / he) is the editor-in-chief of American theater.

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