Whether it was sympathy for frustrated housewife Martha who argued vehemently with her husband about sharing household responsibilities, or whether it was empathy –– because they had all been there –– she is not sure.

“Whatever it was, they loved the show and reacted most enthusiastically,” Ms Stockalis said of the 88 Newtown Woman’s Club members who attended the afternoon event in the Alexandria Room of Edmond Town Hall on Thursday, April 21.

The play Women On The Move was written and directed by Joan Bergquist and recently received a First Place Award from the General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC) of Connecticut. It was the fourth time that Ms Bergquist has received the award.

A full sit-down luncheon was served before the play began, and the performance took place on the Alexandria Room stage.

Performers included the following Newtown Woman’s Club members: Barbara Krausz portrayed Martha, the longsuffering wife, mom, and housewife “on strike”; three friends who supported her by parading around the audience while wearing billboards were played by Betty Warner, Rosalie Kallas, and Pat Gauvain; Nancy Kennedy was husband Tom who finally saw the error in his ways; Janet Stockalis was daughter Kim, 14; and Patty O’Byrne was daughter Sassy, 16.

The playbill was designed by Yvonne Kopins.

Reflecting afterward on the play’s outcome, Barbara Krausz was not sure how much progress her character had actually made down that long road toward women’s liberation, but she did see some positive signs of change among the characters.

“Tom more or less capitulated. He promised to up his wife’s allowance and said he would start doing more around the house.

“The kids eventually left home, and the older daughter became more encouraging of her mother’s efforts. Actually, they both ended up supporting her. But it took a lot of work to get that far. Stereotypes die hard,” Ms Krausz observed.

Like other club members who volunteered to help with the play, Ms Krausz had never performed on a stage before.

“When they told me I was Martha, I was shocked. That might have been my first and last theater performance but it worked out all right. The ladies are wonderful to work with and the club is very supportive,” she added.