‘Gloria: A Life’ Theater Review: Patricia Kalember Takes On Feminist Icon Gloria Steinem

Few people are so closely identified with a movement as Gloria Steinem is with feminism. So when Patricia Kalember, a noted TV and stage actress, took over the lead role in Gloria: A Life from Christine Lahti at the end of January, many theaterphiles were curious how she’d do with such an outsized role. Kalember, it turns out, fits into Gloria’s signature oversized aviator glasses very nicely.

TICKETS FOR ‘GLORIA: A LIFE’

The show explores Gloria’s childhood growing up in Toledo, Ohio, caring for her health-challenged mom. As the play moves through Gloria’s college years and start of her career as a freelance journalist (notably going undercover as a Playboy bunny for one assignment), we see her growing feminist consciousness awaken. The audience surrounds the stage creating a deeply intimate feeling with the all-female cast, who play roles for both genders. It’s an effective device to tell such a sprawling story in a limited time. The show ends with a “talking circle,” which allows audience members to talk back to the cast and probe issues brought up by the production. The kind of frank talk about the sexes that Gloria herself would no doubt approve of.

Gloria: A Life is playing now at Daryl Roth Theatre (101 E. 15th Street, New York, N.Y.) through March 31. Tickets available here.