Doris
Baizley
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Agnes Smedley, Our American Friend

Agnes Smedley, Our American Friend
The life story of a radical American woman. 1934. In camp with the Chinese People’s Army, Agnes Smedley, a radical American journalist, interviews the popular general Chu Teh. Trading stories, they discover their lives and rebellious personalities ran parallel through poverty and oppression, leading them to deep beliefs in revolution. Played by two Asian and two non-Asian actors, the play moves through time and place like the square dances Agnes taught the revolutionaries.

Development: A Contemporary Theater, Seattle WA, 1992

Premiere: Big Fork Playwrights Retreat, Bigfork MT.

Press: Doris Baizley hit bedrock with Agnes Smedley…with her square-dance instructions echoing in our ears: “Take the hand of the person next to you; if you get lost, keep moving forward; be bold in executing all calls; and always keep your head raised.” They’re the watchwords of a larger-than-life character who very nearly bursts the seams of this small-scale, finely wrought play. Variety, Oct 11, 1993

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