This play is both disturbing and important because it’s frighteningly topical, as our ugly history has shown to repeat itself. This play is also well-written. Props to Leia for writing Marlene as a confident trans woman, never pushy or defensive. Although fearful of being erased, Marlene is a fully realized human being grounded in her identity, and remaining so while being initially “Karened” by traditional and uptight housewife Barbara. There is also a wisdom and deep serenity about Marlene that makes her compelling, as she eventually breaks through Barbara’s prejudices, leading to mutual understanding. Thankfully, Leia wrote Barbara as someone with traditional beliefs that were NOT sanctified, allowing Barbara to finally open up her barn doors and really SEE Marlene. Although this play shows the haunting parallels of today’s world with the 1930s, I think the real message here is not to communicate one’s truth more adeptly (mostly futile in the face of sanctified beliefs) but to live in one’s truth more deeply by harnessing rage and fear into making art.