Drama Queens, a five-star arts journal focusing on female artists

Review edited by Natasha Dawsen

FROM ON THE AISLE:
Just saw an incredible production of “Shut Up Martha” by Jake Lipman with Matt Gibson, Jaya Tripathi, William Douglas Turner and Loralee Tyson in the Capital Fringe. Lipman stars as Martha Mitchell, and she co-directed with Olivia M. Ragan.

It’s about the “Mouth of the South” Martha Mitchell — married to Nixon’s attorney general, John Mitchell, who ultimately blew the whistle on Watergate (five men were caught breaking into the Democrat’s offices inside the Watergate complex in DC in 1972).

“Shut Up Martha” is quick-moving (under an hour) with a litany of locales and multi-track characters played by the talented ensemble. It features interesting (and even fun) revelations about history (Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward appear in the story, among others) that bring this 50-year-old scandal into the modern day with discussions about loyalty and honesty in politics. Lipman ably channels Martha and the time period, and a favorite scene includes Nixon’s re-election campaign song, Nixon Now. Now it’s stuck in my head!

Tell everyone you know who may be in DC to go see it – 2 more shows this weekend: Sat 7/15 at 10:55am in the morning and Sun 7/16 at 7:45pm in the evening, Squirt Theatre, 1050 Thomas Jefferson Street NW, Washington DC. Tickets are $15 at www.shutupmartha.com.

Maybe we need someone listening in on some calls today!