Review: Reckoning With Medical Betrayals ‘Behind the Sheet’

I saw this play and was extremely moved. The set design, costumes and choreography all work to convey the humanity and horrible conditions of the women. The sound design was very effective as well. These all supported a wonderfully written and beautifully performed play. You really got a sense of each character as a person and the type of society that assumes black women don't feel pain and can be butchered in the name of scientific progress and capitalism. Appreciated the inclusion of the wife as well - let's not forget her complicity... One of the motivations for curing the fistulas was to repair "property" as it was stated in the play. The audience gasped as he worked through multiple experiments using different knots, types of thread (even thread made of lead) and ghastly tools. Activist Fannie Lou Hammer underwent what was frequently called a "Mississippi appendectomy" where black women were routinely given hysterectomy without consent. This history is why even even today there is a lingering mistrust of the medical community.

In my OBGYN training, we learned about J. Marion Sims and his innovations in gynecological surgery, and women are still examined in the Sims position and we use Sims speculums every day. We learned nothing about his experimentation on enslaved women, who were (obviously) not capable of informed consent. Removing the statue and giving voice to these women are some small steps in restorative justice. Highly recommended.

I'm hoping the run is extended. This sounds like an important teachable moment at a time when Caucasians are understanding how the accepted institutionalized racism has led to inter-generational trauma still needing to be redressed in a climate of extreme 'otherism.'

I saw this in preview. Extraordinary. Go. Don't avoid because of the subject. Mr. Brantley hit it 100 % in his review. in its own way it is a metaphor for human and specifically women's indignity and suffering... We have seen every show at Ensemble Studio Theater for the past 2 years. ALL outstanding. The Sloan Foundation supported work integrates science and technology discovery and issues in unexpected and theatrically powerful ways with brilliant direction, production, casting etc. in a most humble space. Run ...don't walk,to this show.

Just saw this play; extraordinary. Complex, painful themes handled with insight, compassion and muted, powerful rage. Kudos to EST, Charly Evon Simpson, Colette Robert and an amazing cast. Together with my fellow scientific advisors for this Sloan Foundation supported project (Stuart Firestein and Gabriel Cwilich), we commend you all.