***** Are all men created equal? Why does our world still feel that men are the answer to all questions and women are there to just keep them on target? We grew up thinking this was the way of the world. I know that my grandparents ( and in some ways, even my parents) felt that a woman’s job was to keep the household together, while the men are supposed to be the bread-winners. In recent years, through some amazing stories on film and in books, we have come to learn that women could be far more than homemakers. Think about “Hidden Figures” a story about three women who were a major force on America’s race to the Moon. There have been lots of stories where women did the work and men were praised for the results.

“Silent Sky”, now on the stage at Citadel Theatre in Lake Forest is another example of women in power who had no power. Written by Lauren Gunderson, “Silent Sky” is the story of Henrietta Leavitt, a 19th century astronomer who was brought to Harvard University’s Observatory to serve as a “computer”. This is what they called the women who did the work for those men who were called “astronomers”. As we see in this story, the women did all the work but due to gender were not recognized for doing so.  Leavitt ( deftly played by Melissa Harlow) was able to do things that opened the door for many great astronomers to move far closer to their dreams ( which were always hers as well).

Sharply directed by Beth Wolf on a set designed by Trevor Dotson) this cast takes us on a journey that opens our eyes to the world as it was and shows us how one can reach goals by never giving up. In the story we learn about her co-computers  Anne Lentino ( Annie Cannon) and Cameron Feagin ( played to perfection by Willamina Fleming). Cameron seems to have all the comic lines and  Fleming’s delivery is about as perfect as one can get.

There are two other cast members, Laura Michele Erle as Henrietta’s sister Margaret and Adam Thatcher as Peter Shaw, a wanna be astronomer who is by gender the supervisor to all three of these “computer” astronomers. There is a romance between Shaw and Leavitt that takes a u-turn during an important part of the story. The story evolves in a way that will make the women in the audience feel good and I think the men will understand and enjoy the story as well. It is a story about the challenges women faced in the 1920’s and those that were able to overcome the obstacles placed before them.

What is very impressive about this production is the fact that Citadel had made their very small intimate space work perfectly. They have added some amzing  lighting (Joel Zishuk), sound/music (Stefanie Senior) and projections (Chris Owens) that add to making this project a very special one indeed. The costumes (Rachel Sypniewski) are wonderful. I only wish they had more changes to indicate the time movement. Patrick McGuire’s props are well done and the intimacy director (Sheryl Williams) made sure that these scenes were quite realistic. A tip of the hat to the stage manager, Erin Glavin, who made sure that every part of this solid production was just that, Solid!

 “Silent Sky will continue Thru – Mar 17, 2024, with performances as follows: