Red Hot Patriot: The Kick-Ass Wit of Molly Ivins
Although her life was cut short at the early age of 62, Molly Ivins made a mark on the world of politics and journalism. The Geffen Playhouse is featuring a somewhat biographical story of Ivins in a production written by twin sisters Margaret and Allison Engel titled Red Hot Patriot: The Kick-Ass Wit of Molly Ivins. It features the outstanding actress, two-time Tony Award and Oscar nominee Kathleen Turner and is directed by David Esbjornson.
Molly Ivins was born in Monterrey, California and raised in Houston, Texas. Her family was well-to-do, her father an oil and gas executive, and they lived in River Oaks, an affluent neighborhood in Houston. Her father, Jim Ivins, was an authoritative man in business as well as at home. This, undoubtedly, influenced Molly's character as she matured and became the outspoken and unfettered woman she was.
Turner is absolute and first-rate in her depiction of the woman who became a political reporter. She was acerbic, sometimes cruel, but with Molly, there were no holes barred. She wrote it like she felt, sometimes, perhaps a bit more cruel than was necessary and often to the consternation of her editors While working for The New York Times, she was given the task of writing the obituary for Elvis Presley which appeared in the August 17, 1977 edition. She eventually moved from New York to fulfill her career in Texas. where her syndicated column eventually appeared in nearly 400 newspapers throughout the country.
The time of the production is set in 2007 and earlier, in a newsroom (sparse set design by John Arnone) with a desk and an Associated Press Teletype machine off to one side. The machine periodically "spits out" Ivins' past newspaper articles which are conveniently retrieved by her "Helper" Matthew Van Oss (a speechless part). These articles, that she reverts to, help to tell her story.
Molly Ivins was a spirited lady who, unfortunately died of breast cancer on January 31, 2007. (She was diagnosed in 1999.) With politics as they are today, it would be interesting to know who and what she would be writing about today!
Tickets for Red Hot Patriot: The Kick-Ass Wit of Molly Ivins are available in person at the Geffen Playhouse Box Office, by phone at (310) 208-5454, or online at www.geffenplayhouse.com. It plays Tuesdays through Fridays at 8 PM, Saturdays at 3 PM and 8 PM, Sundays at 2 PM and 7 PM. The Geffen Playhouse is located at 10886 LeConte Avenue, Westwood Village in Los Angeles.