The Birth of the Pill: A Thought-Provoking Play by Jessica Huang

Jessica Huang’s play, The Birth of the Pill, recently had its premiere at TimeLine Theatre. Rather than a direct adaptation of Jonathan Eig’s history on oral contraception, Huang’s work critiques the narrative presented by the Pulitzer Prize-winning author.

In her play, Huang reexamines the roles of key historical figures such as Margaret Sanger (played by Janet Ulrich Brooks), founder of Planned Parenthood, Katharine McCormick (Mary Beth Fisher), a philanthropist who financed much of the pill’s research, and scientist Gregory Pincus (Mitchell J. Fain), whose collaboration with Min Chueh Chang (Rammel Chan) and gynecologist John Rock (David Parkes) was crucial. Huang highlights Sanger’s controversial interest in eugenics and scrutinizes the pill testing, which predominantly affected low-income Puerto Rican communities. These communities, eager for contraceptives, faced health risks due to the high experimental doses tested on them. These trials have been criticized for the lack of informed consent and resulted in three fatalities, an issue Huang addresses through the character of Ramona Delgado, portrayed by Maria Victoria Martinez.

Delgado, although briefly mentioned in Eig’s book, serves as the story’s narrator, offering perspective on the pill’s history through her experiences. Eig himself makes an appearance in the play, possibly as an attempt to reconcile or explain the narrative choices in his book. The play diverges significantly from Eig’s work, presenting a clear perspective on the ethical concerns surrounding the trials.

Planned Parenthood’s distancing from Sanger in 2020 adds context to the play’s themes. Huang’s narrative emphasizes the indifference of elite Americans towards the trial’s adverse effects, seen through a lens of racial and social bias. While the play offers a strong viewpoint, its predictability may detract from the intended impact, sometimes reducing the complexity of the historical context.

The production by Sandra Marquez encounters moments of ‘meta’ commentary about the play itself, which may detract from learning about the pill’s history. Despite humorous undertones, it occasionally lacks depth in portraying the real-life implications of the contraceptive’s development. Embracing the nuanced history behind the pill, which brought significant change for women while imposing costs, remains essential. This reflects the multi-faceted nature of historical innovations, imperfections included. As Barrett Beiner’s photography showcases the cast’s performances, a deeper exploration of these complexities could enhance the experience.

Ultimately, Huang’s impassioned writing might flourish in an original piece about the pill instead of adapting a work she fundamentally critiques. The play suggests promising talent yet seems suited more for an independent creation addressing the topic’s intricacies.

Review: “The Birth of the Pill” (2.5 stars)

When: Through Oct. 4

Where: TimeLine Theatre, 5035 N. Broadway

Running time: 1 hour, 45 minutes

Tickets: $65-$100 at timelinetheatre.com