MISS AMERICA’S UGLY
DAUGHTER by Carol Kaufman Segal
Bess
Myerson was crowned Miss America in 1945, the first and only, Jewish contestant
to win the pageant. The title of this
play, Miss America’s Ugly Daughter, written by her only daughter, Barra Grant,
and performed by her, elicits a vision of an unattractive woman. However, that is far from the truth. Ms Grant is a lovely, charming, and talented
woman despite her years growing up under her narcissistic and unaffectionate mother.
Barra’s
story is told in flashbacks of phone calls from her mother in her later years,
calls that come during all hours of the night and into the early morning (the
voice performed off-stage by Monica Piper).
Berra’s
mother was constantly critical of her from her early childhood. She never thought her daughter was pretty,
and did not fail to make her aware of those feelings. She lived her life in the shadow of her
mother throughout her years growing up. Myerson
was always much too busy with her own life to dote on her daughter.
After
winning the crown, Bess Myerson’s life became public. She appeared on numerous television shows, became
New York City’s First Commissioner of Consumer Affairs, an adviser to Mayor Ed
Koch, served on presidential commissions, and ran (unsuccessfully) for the
United States Senate. Unfortunately, in
her late 60‘s, she became involved with the wrong man and was indicted on
bribery and conspiracy charges. After a
highly publicized trial, she was acquitted.
This proved to be her downfall until she passed away at the age of 90.
Barra wrote
this play as a comedy. Undoubtedly
through it all, as revealed in her story about the late night phone calls and despite
all, she has had the spirit to forgive.
Miss America’s Ugly Daughter is playing Saturdays
at 8 PM, Sundays at 5 PM, and Mondays at 8 PM, through March 24, at the
Greenway Court Theatre, 544 N. Fairfax Ave., Los Angeles. Tickets are available
online at MissAmericasUglyDaughter.com, or by calling (323) 285-2078.
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