Theatre Review: Ms.Estrada Brings Feminism To Hip Hop & Shakespeare

Is equal treatment special treatment? This is the question that billows through Ms.Estrada, directed by Michelle Tattenbaum; the most feminist musical, written by 4 guys, to hit off-off broadway. The Q Collective do amazingly fun and poignant musicals that re-vamp how we see Shakespeare classics like, Othello: The Remix. Ms.Estrada, based of Lysistra, shines a light on feminism, and why so many men cannot seem to back the movement.

Empathy is the key to bringing justice. No one ever stepped forward into a united truth and sense of equality without a level of compassion. The problem is, even nowadays, compassion has an image. Characters like, Ben Schrager’s hilarious Dean Jaffe and Jonathan Ryan’s name-dropping Brian, believe they are compassionate because they recite feminist literature, discuss pronoun usage, and invite a woman of color to forums, despite ignoring her every time she talks. They do the looks and actions that would make them appear “woke”, but their intentions and understanding are fully asleep. After all, just because you are moving does not mean you are dancing, which is why Malena Pennycook as Liz Estrada shakes the scene.

In a world that loves to talk about what it should do, will do, could have done, and simply did not, Ms. Liz Estrada is a fierce doer. Pennycook makes Liz the Rachel Barry/ Tracy Flick of feminism. She is a wide-eyed over-achiever that is, literally, willing to go to jail to prove a point. In her mind, Acropolis University is the Sierra Maestra to her Che Guevara; she is ready to use guerrilla warfare to abolish the Greek Games at her school, and further safety, kind treatment, education, and equal pay for women at her college.

There is no denying that there is a sexist culture tied to frat life. Name one frat-bro movie that does not have drunk boys trying to get laid with a “hoe”. This is why Karsten Otto’s Max, Jack Horton Gilbert’s Leaf, and David A Wallace’s Herman give laughs but also thoughts as the boyfriends that uses their girlfriends when they are horny but not when they are thinking. Sure, they can give their focus, heart, and intelligent strategy to a beer pong race, but they cannot be romantic or kind to the women that support them.The casualness of their coldness shows why women are not demanding “special” treatment; they are demanding a human one.

When a beer pong is treated better than you, not only are you being seen as an object, but you are also being seen as pretty useless. The realization sparks the Ring A Ding Dong movement led, of course, by Ms. Estrada. Pennycook is a beacon of energy that makes you want to grab a pink scarf, and lock yourself in the Dean’s office with her. Madeline Mahoney’s Cali, Pearl Shin’s Marina, Caturah Brown’s Limpita, Maggie McCaffery’s Bonnie, Monique St. Cyr’s Cheryl serve roll on the floor laughs and deep, femme insight as Liz’s friends, back-up revolutionaries, and fellow women showing how race, class, and individualism hinder and elevate a movement.

Differences pack on in the same ways as similarities. Sometimes, you meet people who see your difference as reason to leave you destitute, (Michael Ortiz’s sleazy Harry Stefani), and, sometimes, you meet people who share your difference, but also have other ones or other ways of approaching it,(Jenna Krasowski’s strong, snarky Ms.Spencer). Amongst Hip Hop infused songs DJ’d by Marguerite Frarey and choreography by Rockafella, the Q Brothers Collective have shown how you can work with others, and accept that a few are not meant to be worked with, all. Some will never see your worth and equality, but those who do are worth working through differences. For More Information on Ms. Estrada Click Here To Buy Tickets.

Ms. Estrada is 85 minutes no intermission – Play till April 22
Located The Flea Theater 20 Thomas St, New York, NY 10007