Misunderstood Play

I feel compelled to respond to Jana J. Monji’s review of my play, “The Powder Room,” starring Sally Kirkland, at the Court Theatre (Theater Beat, Jan. 21). Had Monji read the press release in her media kit, she would not have written that the “premise” of my play “is more than a little shaky.” In fact, the play was inspired by an actual incident of reverse gender bias that I endured at UCLA Extension in 1997. The fact that she failed to take this into account undermines her entire review.

Her presumption that all women’s studies classes are these enlightened and inclusive places flies in the face of my experience and is clearly her irresponsible personal bias. And my experience is by no means exceptional. Indeed, a national controversy has been swirling around radical feminist Boston College professor Mary Daly’s determination to bar men from her classes.

This need that many women feel to have a “room of one’s own” is common among many minority groups today and sometimes crosses the line, as it does in my play.

FRANK H. STRAUSSER

Los Angeles

*

Monji wrote that she could not fathom that a male in a woman’s studies course would come as any “surprise.” But it was a huge surprise, as I can attest, since I was a fellow student at that writing seminar. The evening of the first class found a distraught Frank H. Strausser much in need of a sympathetic ear to hear out what had happened to him in the “heroine’s journey” course--a course I had recommended to him. I thought it was perfect for him as he had a female character in his recent novel who needed more dimension.

The thought never occurred to me, even as a woman, that a male writer would be so unwelcome. And so, when Frank emerged really distraught from his experience, I felt somewhat responsible. So, yes, it was a surprise, as it will be to the audiences who go to this provocative black comedy.

NANCY H. NICKERSON

Toluca Lake