This play instantly appealed to me, partly because I'm one of many women who had a bitterly disappointing first birth, so bad I wanted to do it over again as soon as I was done.  Even though I was armed with all of the information and a very strong will, I still ended up feeling completely powerless and ashamed.  Anyway, living in Lincoln Ne, I've gotten used to being disappointed with the birthing mindframe in the midwest.  Home births are illegal in Nebraska, there are no Birth Centers in the entire State, nor within 3 hours of Lincoln (I think Kansas City and Des Moines are the closest).  Similarly, after hearing all about BOLD, I eagerly checked the website to see if there were any shows near me this September.  Well, as usual there are no shows even close.  

In a twist of fate, however, I found myself in Denver Colorado today.  My sister had to travel here for a surgery (there is crap medical care in western Nebraska, Eastern Nebraska is an oasis in comparison) and plans fell through at the last minute and she needed somebody to drive her here and then back to our hometown.  So here I am, 3 1/2 hours from my hometown, 6 1/2 hours from my home in Lincoln, and I'm bored as hell sitting in the hospital.  I leave to go grab some lunch and what do I see?  A flyer for BOLD!!!  Turns out it was showing tonight not even 9 blocks from the hospital, one of only two shows.  

Needless to say I went and it was amazing. I laughed, I cried, and even though I didn't think it was possible for me to think about the institutionalization and medicalization of labor in any more critical of light (I'm a medical sociologist for christ sake), I left completely inspired.  I so wish DH could've been there, I feel like this play could really help him to understand my feelings about my first birth, feelings that are still surprisingly raw and unforgiving even after 4 years.  He has never understood, but I think this would make him understand.  And I really do think this play holds that kind of power.  I think it could really make a difference.  Truly, I think everybody should see this play.  Everybody.  

The most profound thing I think discussed in the play, truly a central theme, was simply that most women just want afforded the common courtesy and respect given to any mammal birthing.  We are truly fighting for the right to give birth like a dog.  No crowds, no lights, no whisking healthy babies away from their mothers, no interruptions, a birthing environment filled with quiet, solitude, and reverence for the birthing process; there is complete faith that a woman will do what she needs to do to give birth, and whatever she does is right.  Have you ever seen another animal give birth?  That's what I want.  And I didn't really know how to put it until I saw this.  

What I liked about this play is it crosses the spectrum of types of births.  From home births to planned C-sections, and they recognize each woman's viewpoint as important and valuable.  The only part I thought it was lacking was the high risk birth.  Don't get me wrong.  The vast majority of births are normal, and they would be wrong to try to portray otherwise.  On the other hand, if every woman's birth story matters, I think they could manage to fit in one high risk birth where a mother actually does need an intervention.  This could be a prolapsed chord, a premature birth, or gestational diabetes.  The only other complaint I have is almost a complete absence of the discussion of breastfeeding.  It is mentioned once during the play, but I think it could easily be incorporated to each of the birth stories, whether the mother breastfeeds or doesn't.  We know that what happens during and after birth makes a big difference, so why not incorporate it?  

Anyway, I loved the play, I'm hooked, and I now have dreams of bringing
BOLD to Lincoln next September.  If any of you get a chance, go out of your way to see it.  It is currently playing all over the US for the month of Septemeber.  Hopefully you'll have the good luck I did.