As an avid theatergoer, “Suffs” has been one of my most anticipated shows for a while now, and I recently got the opportunity to see it. In the wake of the election, I was hesitant to go see a show with such a current and poignant message, but it ended up hitting perfectly, with a mix of devastation and hope echoing from both the cast and audience. The Tony Award-winning musical depicts the decades-long suffragist movement that led to the passing of the 19th Amendment in 1920, as well as all of the women who participated in the movement and saw it through.
It specifically follows Alice Paul, Ruza Wenclawska, Lucy Burns, Inez Milholland and Doris Stevens as they fight for the change they want to see and the sacrifices they make to improve their status in society. The show begins with a song sung by Jenn Colella’s character, Carrie Chapman Catt, advocating to “let mother vote,” which instantly transports the viewer into the society. Soon after, the National American Woman Suffrage Association leader meets Alice Paul, who challenges all of her preconceived notions of how the movement should be done.
Carrie believes in advocating peacefully, but Alice believes that the only way to change the world is to speak out, and decides to hold a march against the way the government is addressing suffrage. She then enlists Lucy, Ruza and Inez to help with the job, and the group begins their fight. The format of the show works in a similar fashion to “Hamilton,” narrating a his.