[NoHo Arts District, CA] – A NoHo Arts theatre review of “Unheard Voices 3 – Women of Enlightenment” written by J.S. Bellatore, directed by Ralf Tropf, produced by The All Roses Company at Whitefire Theatre’s Solofest 2023.
The Unheard Voices series of plays, this being the third, is a fascinating and altogether unique commentary on an eclectic selection of women, their contributions historically, and how little they are either known of, discussed, or shockingly even a part of our history or civics education.

This latest play honors a magical variety of brave, creative and unforgettable souls. Baroque painter Artemisia Gentileschi, a brilliant artist who walks us through her life as a female painter in 15th-century Italy. Unable to follow her craft without the support of a husband, she was raped and cast aside by another more famous artist, and yet she still persisted and painted female heroes of myth and legend, all with an eye on justice. This poignant and heart-rending dramatized retelling of her life barely contains her fury.

Then we hear the story of Elizabeth Griscom Claypoole, or Betsey Ross as she is more commonly known. Betsey was a thrice-married seamstress with her own business who married for love and outside of her Quaker faith. A shocking thing to do in the eighteen hundreds. She famously sewed the first flag of the United States and was secretly a spy for George Washington. What revelations!

And then there is the sad story of Sally Hemings, who was born a slave, was a half sister to Thomas Jefferson’s wife who died. Then she became his next partner, although he never married her and even on his death did not free her. Even though she lived with him and bore him many children. What a woman and what a story. She was far far more than Thomas Jefferson’s woman…
All these wonderful stories are written as beautiful monologues to the audience, with a little conversation to other characters. But it’s the eloquence of their soulful anecdotes and their fierce defense of their value and place in our collective history that charms.
How wonderful to be taken back to renaissance Italy, then transported to Philadelphia at the beginning of this country’s own story. And then to the company of Sally Hemings, one of the most misunderstood characters in US history. A brilliant and opinionated woman who loved and was loved.
This is a wonderful project. To give voice to women who had very little of their own at the time they lived and hardly any now, since the history books have chosen to forget them for the most part. So we have the creators “Unheard Voices” to thank for such illuminating and gorgeously acted plays about these glorious women who truly shaped our world.
I loved the simple production, the scenes taking us pivotal moment by moment through their lives. The grace and the dignity that is the thread that binds them and the astonishing modernity of their spirited, strong souls. Bravo! I wonder who they will dramatize next.
Find out more about “Unheard Voices 3 – Women of Enlightenment” – https://unheardvoicesplay.com.
Cast:
Barbara Saba plays Artemisia Gentileschi, Nicole Sarrett plays Betsy Ross and Kylah Wittaker is Sally Hemings.