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Top Girls Shows Contrasts, Complexities of Females’ Changing Roles During 1980s

(PDF) (DOC) (JPG)February 20, 2003

(Mahwah) – Top Girls, a play that portrays the machinations and motivations of women striving for success in Margaret Thatcher’s England of the 1980s, brings its unique view of female political, economic and social change to the Adler Theater at Ramapo College of New Jersey Thursday, March 6 to Saturday, March 8 and Wednesday, March 12 to Friday, March 14 at 8 p.m. Final performances are Saturday, March 15, at 2 and 8 p.m.

Director Maria Vail Guevara, associate professor of theater at Ramapo College, said the play explores the question, Can women who have sacrificed sisterhood in order to compete in a man’s world ever truly find happiness?”

She said the play – written by Caryl Churchill in 1982 -bounces back and forth between scenes involving infamous female adventurers from history dining and drinking in a strange dream-like Italian restaurant, and modern day women trying to find their way at Top Girls Employment Agency.

Sixteen Ramapo College students and faculty members appear in Top Girls including, in alphabetical order: Elsie Byers, Newark; Darragh Cimis, Brick Township; Steph Einstein, Westwood; Sarah Felix, Middlesex; Andrea Gonzalez, Phillipsburg; Kristyn Grasing, New Milford; Amber Harned, Berlin; Ráchel Herbert; Mallory Hoernig, Wyckoff; Jennifer Mazza,Woodbridge; Gina Musumeci; Vanessa Pellecchia, River Vale; Jennifer Ponton, Phillipsburg; Jenifer Shaffstall, West Milford; Kendra Lee Thatcher, Lambertville; and Chrissy Tippy, Parsippany.

An online commentary by Oliver Gatten of arts4school notes that Top Girls delves into the social upheavals and economic gains that occurred among women in England as well as America. Hailed by some feminists as a triumph for women, Margaret Thatcher was Britain’s first female prime minister. However, just as Caryl Churchill sets out to show, all this prosperity did not come without a price. In Top Girls Churchill seeks to glorify the new revolution only to undermine it and give us an idea of the sacrifices made.”

Tickets are $10 for general admission and $5 for students with a valid ID. The 8 p.m. shows on March 14 and 15 will be signed by interpreters for the deaf. The Adler Theater is located in the Angelica and Russ Berrie Center for Performing and Visual Arts on the Ramapo College campus. For tickets or information, phone (201) 684-7844.

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About Ramapo College

Ramapo College of New Jersey is the state’s premier public liberal arts college and is committed to academic excellence through interdisciplinary and experiential learning, and international and intercultural understanding. The comprehensive college is situated among the beautiful Ramapo Mountains, is within commuting distance to New York City, was named one of the 50 Most Beautiful College Campuses in America by CondeNast Traveler, and boasts the best on-campus housing in New Jersey per Niche.com. Established in 1969, Ramapo College offers bachelor’s degrees in the arts, business, data science, humanities, social sciences and the sciences, as well as in professional studies, which include business, education, nursing and social work. In addition, the College offers courses leading to teacher certification at the elementary and secondary levels, and offers graduate programs leading to master’s degrees in Accounting, Applied Mathematics, Business Administration, Contemporary Instructional Design, Computer Science, Creative Music Technology, Data Science, Educational Leadership, Nursing, Social Work and Special Education, as well as a Doctor of Nursing Practice.

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