Respect is all you could ask for
Published Thursday, July 29, 2004
by Skip Sheffield

“Respect: A Musical Journey of Women,” is a feminist musical history trip that will either cheer you or annoy you, depending upon your orientation.

For an opening night crowd at the Cuillo Center, where the show runs through Aug. 8 at 201 Clematis St., West Palm Beach, the reaction was a big thumbs-up from a cheering throng.

“Respect” is the brainchild of Dr. Dorothy Marcic, who began “Respect” as a one-woman show presented in 1999 to a Baha’i Social and Economics Development group in Orlando. The Baha’i faith believes the sexes are absolutely equal, and that civilization cannot progress until that concept is realized.

Dr. Marcic delved into the history of late 19th and 20th century music as well as the history of women in America in general and her personal history in particular to fill out this “musical journey of women,” under the direction of a most sympathetic guy, Peter Lowey.

Dr. Dorothy herself appears in the cast of “Respect” as a narrator and ensemble singer, but most of the songs are sung by the vivacious trio of Paulette Dozier, Jeanne Fitzpatrick and Emily Price.

The show begins playfully, with snippets of “girl group” faves like “I Will Follow Him, “Mr. Sandman,” “This is Dedicated” and “Stop in the Name of Love,” from the un-liberated 1950s and early 1960s.

The show takes an immediate turn with “I Am Woman (Hear Me Roar),” Helen Reddy’s hit that became the theme song of 1970s women’s liberation. “What would be the soundtrack of your life?” queries Dr. Dorothy, as she proceeds to give us her Wisconsin upbringing, which probably resembles that of a lot of post World War II Baby Boomers.
In a musical revue with some 50 songs, it is impossible to perform each song fully, but some get shorter shrift than others.

A song like “Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man” gives Paulette Dozier a chance to show off her low alto belt; “Heard-Hearted Hannah” even more so.Emily Price manages to sound adorably Betty Boop-like in her rendition of “I Wanna Be Loved By You” from 1926, and she performs most of the ingénue-type songs.

Jeanette Fitzpatrick is the smallest of the ladies, but she has the largest vocal range. Her rendition of “Where The Boys Are” rivals Connie Francis in power and poignancy, yet she mines the torch song “It Must Be Him” for zany telephone comedy.

The second half of the show brings in Rosa Parks, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement, and links them with the liberation of women with the warning choruses of “These Boots are Made for Walking,” “What’s Love Got to Do With It,” and the recurring “I Will Survive.” The songs are played by a spare, energetic trio, featuring Boca Raton’s Tom Pizzi on electronic piano (musical arrangements by Phil Hinton), with Tony Lavender on tiny electronic drums and Jacqueline de la Santos on electric bass. “Respect” is performed at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday and 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Tickets are $25 and $32. Call (561) 835-9226.

Copyright 2004 - Boca Raton News