Reviewed by Joan Tupponce
If you subscribe to the old saying, Good things come in small packages! you are going to love Virginia Rep’s current production of Becoming Dr. Ruth at Hanover Tavern.
The bioplay chronicles the life of the feisty sex therapist Dr. Ruth who rose to fame in the 1980s for her radio call-in talk show, Sexually Speaking. Dr. Ruth’s easy style and use of humor was renowned for making people feel at ease talking about sex and sexuality.
When we first meet Dr. Ruth, she is in her New York apartment packing for a move across town. When she spots the audience, a ninety-minute conversation with theatergoers begins. The stories she shares about her life are interrupted by phone calls from her kids as well people she knows seeking advice on sex.
A German Jew, Ruth talks about seeing her father being taken away when the Nazi regime was in its heyday. At the age of twelve she was sent to Switzerland to escape the Nazis, leaving her to always wonder what happened to her family.
Her life was full of challenges but she met each one head on, determined not to pander to fear but to always move forward. That sentiment is echoed by her collection of decorative turtles – some stuck in their shells and others pushing their head out in order to move forward.
She talks about her three marriages and the fifteen-minute talk show that made her a household name and eventually became nationally syndicated.
Director Bruce Miller could not have cast a better actress to play the diminutive (just four feet and seven inches) Dr. Ruth than the spunky, petite Eileen DeSandre. She embodies Dr. Ruth, perfectly replicating her mannerisms and accent.
DeSandre’s ease on stage is equally matched by her enormous talent. She takes you on an emotional journey filled with memories and laughter. She is mesmerizing to watch.
Becoming Dr. Ruth kicks off Virginia Rep’s Barksdale Season at Hanover Tavern with a bang. It is thoroughly entertaining. The show runs through October 19 at Virginia Rep’s Hanover Tavern. Visit Virginia Rep to learn about group discounts, rush tickets, and U-tix for college and high school students.
