Play Shines Light on Women's Plight

When Cathy Foxhoven finished reading Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide by Nicholas Kristof and his wife Sheryl WuDunn, the stories of women mistreated throughout the world stuck with her. As she learned about human trafficking, honor killings, sexual assault, problems with maternal health and other wrongdoings, she realized these were stories she had to share.

So, Foxhoven--known in Burlingame for directing children’s theater productions, Burlingame Idol and community theater troupe Acting Out and About--wrote the play A Mutual Onus, a series of seven monologues chronically real atrocities towards women in the United States and developing countries.

“I needed to [do something] by telling their stories, by making people aware,” said Foxhoven. “A lot of people say, ‘I don’t want to hear about it’…they have to hear about it, there has to be that awareness so these things do not continue.”

Foxhoven wrote three of the monologues. Laura Schuhreimen wrote three, as well, pulling from her experiences of being molested as a child. The final monologue was written by Jane Roberts, who had an entire chapter dedicated to her in Half the Sky. All will be performed Saturday in the Burlingame Public Library’s Lane Community Room.

Through the play, Foxhoven wants to give viewers a starting point from which to discuss and understand some of the issues women face.

“[The goal is] that they can talk about what is going on,” she said. “Could it happen to our children, to our grandchildren? You bet is can. But if there’s an awareness, the more that there is out there, the less chances of this continuing.”

The play is also a fundraiser. Proceeds will go to P.A.V.E. (Promoting Awareness Victim Empowerment), which serves victims of sexual harassment and molestation, and 34 Million Friends, which aid global maternal healthcare.

Foxhoven began writing the play two years ago and gave herself the deadline of finishing this year in time for Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day, March 8.  A Mutual Onus is sponsored by the American Association of University Women, a group Foxhoven is actively involved in. The play features actors from Stanford University, Academy of Arts University and Acting Out and About.

As for the title of the play, Foxhoven wanted it to carry meaning without melodrama. Onus means responsibility and mutual means shared, so the title signifies the duty women have to protect, help and educate each other and others about the proper treatment of women.

“We have to be able as women and girls to help each other,” she said. “It starts with us.”

 A Mutual Onus plays Saturday, March 10 in the Lane Community Room at 1 p.m. A $10 donation is suggested. A repeat performance will be held on April 20 at 7 p.m. at the Academy of Arts University theater.