1970: The Independent Female (Or A Man Has His Pride)

Presented in the style of 19th century melodrama - complete with audience contributions of "boo! hiss!" and "hurrah!" - this piece was the first great success of many by SFMT lead playwright Joan Holden, who went on to stay with the company for another 30 years. Can Sarah Bull, feminist, wean winsome Gloria Pennybank away from the humiliation of being both fiancé and office lackey to John Heartright, dumb junior-exec, and into the glories of Total Economic and Sexual Emancipation? Ragtime music, a snake-oil salesmen, jugglers and clowns rounded out a hilarious and timely call for change in women's roles in the "old west" of the 1970's.