Often times, the perfectly polished lens of history can strip people of their human complexity, reducing them to unreachable symbols. Not so with the Ginsburg and O’Connor of the Phoenix Theatre’s “Sisters in Law.”
Playwright Jonathan Shapiro’s sharp-witted screenplay portrays Supreme Court Justices Ginsburg and O’Connor in all their professional glory while lifting the veil on their personal sides as well.
There’s also Arizona-related humor from O’Connor, whose flippancy about being the first female Supreme Court justice makes a sharp divide between her and the more ambitious Ginsburg, who wants to speed up progress for women. The two share many fascinating talks on subjects from feminism to families and stories about their lives, which fill the stage with intrigue even though there are only two bodies on stage.
The script is a fascinating balance of public personas and private thought, although the scales are slightly skewed in Ginsburg’s direction, making her a sort of hero in the two-woman play.
It’s no shame, for Eileen T’Kaye’s Ruth Bader Ginsburg is so shockingly accurate that a friend of mine said, “Gee, it was sure nice of the justice to spare the time to show up on stage!” Even in the depths of despair, T’Kaye infuses Ginsburg with a passionate poise and a strong, emotive voice.
In contrast, Laura Wernette’s Sandra Day O’Connor is a charming and slightly prideful opposite to Ginsburg, yet even when she’s being stubborn and not seeing her fellow’s side, she never becomes unlikable. Her funny body language and confident voice make her a strong and charming representation I would suspect Justice O’Connor finds flattering.
Wernette’s breezy Sandra is ironclad in her beliefs, but her chipper presence and designer Connie Furr’s vivid costumes make her a fun and enjoyable contrast to the visually subdued but ethically ardent Ginsburg.
Not a moment of “Sisters in Law” is wasted. Every scene is staged with swift efficiency; director Dana Resnick does a bang-up job with keeping the pace slow enough to give time for the deep stories to sink in, but quick enough so that the legal discussions never lose their luster or become dull.
I found myself learning about interesting, obscure cases I hadn’t heard of before. Intense discussions about the ramifications of high-level decisions had the audience staring in rapt silence, only to burst into applause when the scene shifted. Watching whip-smart dialogue delivered by three-dimensional characters whose contrasting styles–clothes, movement and speech–was mesmerizing.
Bold, brainy and brilliantly written, “Sisters in Law” is a quiet triumph. Just like sisters, Ginsburg and O’Connor argue, compete and see themselves in each other. It’s a fascinating story that is so enjoyable it feels too short, and by the end of the play, I found myself relating to both justices.
Contact the reporter at sosulli2@asu.edu.
