The San Francisco Mime Troupe Reader

Factwino Meets the Moral Majority

Factwino Meets the Moral Majority 1981 Script by Joan Holden with Brian Freeman, Tede Matthews, Peter Solomon, and Henri Picciotto Introduction Sedro F. Wooley, aka Factwino, is possibly the most popular character in Mime Troupe history. He is also the hero in three out of four plays of the Factperson tetralogy. Factwino Meets the Moral Majority is the second play in the series. The show uses the Marvel comic book style and ends with a cliffhanger, laying the groundwork for the subsequent show, Factwino vs. Armageddonman. Whereas Milton Friedman was the villain in the ‹rst Factperson , and Jerry Falwell and New Right are villainous in this second installment , this Factwino develops the concept of the supervillain in the form of Armageddonman, a two-headed monster: war and business. The production was highly successful and garnered four Bay Area Theatre Critics’ awards. Commentary Shabaka Playing the Factwino character was one of the most ful‹lling experiences I’ve ever had as a performer. (“Forty Years of Speaking Up,” San Francisco Chronicle, 28 November 1999) Audrey Smith Factwino was discovering heaven on earth. I never tired of the amazing people I had the chance to work with. I’d pay to do that show again. (Telephone interview by Susan Vaneta Mason, 30 July 2002) Henri Picciotto Conventional comic book heroes tend to be white male professionals: journalist , photographer, industrialist, millionaire, doctor, student, scientist. 162 Factwino Meets the Moral Majority 163 During the ’70s comic books have featured increased numbers of black and especially female superheroes, in response to the times. But the Mime Troupe went further: with Rita [Factperson], we have a working class woman heroine; and with Sedro, a black wino. These choices, combined with the ‘gender free’ name inscribed on the superhero’s cape (Factperson), are a necessary—if not original—comment on the conventions of the genre. (“Comics on Stage,” in West Coast Plays 15/16 [Berkeley: California Theatre Council, 1983], 187) Wilma Bonet I had a great time doing the show. It was at a time when the company was at its best artistically. As if we couldn’t do wrong. The topics were timely—in fact ahead of their time. We were right on the money in attacking the Christian Right and to do it in a comic book style. It was a family show everybody could relate to. The audiences got it, and their response was unbelievable. Factwino was a great character. (Interview by Susan Vaneta Mason, 16 June 2002) Joaquin Aranda Working on Factwino was an unforgettable experience. Everything, from the writing, the mounting of the show, to ‹nally performing it with an unbelievably talented cast was just phenomenal. It was as if the company was in an artistic zone, so to speak. (Telephone interview by Susan Vaneta Mason, 20 July 2002) Mel Gussow The show is, in Mime Troupe tradition, a pop cartoon that sounds the alarm against pomposity and sanctimony. (“San Francisco Mime Troupe,” New York Times, 19 May 1982) Paul Berman The San Francisco Mime Troupe’s new musical is a rousing comic book triumph over the Moral Majority—rousing because it speaks to one’s deepest, which is to say lowest, political beliefs. A rock singer asks the public, “You voted for Nixon twice—why?” And the back-up singers chant: “Because you’re stupid!” (“Zap, Wow!” Village Voice, 1 June 1982) Esteban Oropeza Factwino was wonderful. It was sharp. It was exciting. The hero is a lower class guy, a wino, who exposes what’s up. It was a whole arsenal attacking the Right. I am blessed to have been in the Mime Troupe. It was a struggle, but you get through it. (Telephone interview with Susan Vaneta Mason, 12 August 2002) The San Francisco Mime Troupe Reader 164 Welton Jones Factwino is the second in what may prove to be a whole Wagnerian cycle of plays. (“Factwino Is Irresistible in Mime Troupe Tradition,” San Diego Union, 24 March 1982) Dan Sullivan Factwino, the only superhero with wardrobe by Fruit of the Loom. (“A Mellowed Factwino at Variety Arts,” Los Angeles Times, 17 May 1985) Nancy Scott As craziness mounts, day by day, as the Rev. Jerry Falwell marches militantly backward into the dark ages of fundamentalism, as humanist reforms are stricken from the laws and bookburners hold their torches at the ready, don’t panic. Factwino is here. (“Mime Troupe Tackles Falwell,” San Francisco Examiner, 5 August 1981) The Production Factwino Meets the Moral Majority opened on 25 July...