IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER
More a series of events in one woman’s life than a true narrative, Eason’s one-hour show incorporates information from topical magazines and books (The Female Fear, The Beauty Myth, The Women’s History of the World) and the experiences of the cast and assistant director Heidi Stillman. Though it does offer a few statistics on wife beating, rape, and the salary gap between men and women, In the Eye of the Beholder keeps its personal feel by concentrating on the ordinary events that reveal larger societal patterns. And while the performance succeeds in stirring serious arguments about the way women are taught to perceive themselves and the way they’re viewed by men, it also reaches a far more elusive goal–creating art.
Best of Chicago voting is live now. Vote for your favorites »
In the Eye of the Beholder shines a spotlight on the belittling experiences common to women, but it’s not a women-only show: it raises issues to be addressed by both sexes, and in a true collaborative effort, does so with pathos, whimsy, and beauty.
