Bess Wohl’s 'Liberation' Opens on Broadway Highlighting Women’s Equity Struggles

Liberation, a play by Bess Wohl, has recently opened on Broadway at the James Earl Jones Theatre after a successful Off-Broadway run at Roundabout Theatre Company's Laura Pels Theatre. The play, directed by Whitney White, explores second-wave feminism, focusing on a group of women who start a women's liberation group in a 1970 Ohio rec center basement, reflecting on themes of memory, motherhood, and the ongoing struggle for gender equality. Central to the narrative is Lizzie, portrayed by Susannah Flood, who serves as both a character from the 1970s and a contemporary narrator, bridging past and present feminist perspectives. Critics praise the play's deeply personal yet universal resonance and its nuanced examination of feminist legacies and setbacks, highlighting its timeliness amid current political challenges. The Broadway production maintains the ensemble's tight dynamic and emotional depth, though some note the larger theater space alters the intimacy experienced Off-Broadway. Overall, Liberation is recognized as a powerful, essential theater piece that challenges audiences to reflect on the sacrifices and ongoing work of women's liberation.