Can She Say That?

She nicknamed Texas Gov. Rick "Goodhair" Perry "the Ken doll" throughout his early political career and called President George W. Bush a "shrub." That sorry-I'm-not-sorry humor made the late newspaper columnist Molly Ivins stage-worthy. Red Hot Patriot: The Kick-Ass Wit of Molly Ivins stars award-winning actress Barbara Bradshaw, who plays the quick-witted, liberal journalist who made a name for herself laughing at politicians in the heart of conservative Texas. The 75-minute play, written by sisters Margaret and Allison Engel, delves into not only the best of Ivins' no-bullshit satire but also her life story. Having a privileged childhood of constant mingling with families of oil executives she didn't trust and later losing her boyfriend to the Vietnam War, Ivins channeled her anger toward politics into drinking and journalism. She made it her mission to inform readers about their elected officials and later even her battle with breast cancer, which ended her life at age 62 in 2007. The play is filled with humor, love, and irony as a tribute to Ivins' career and entertaining viewpoints. Red Hot Patriot plays this Friday through March 16, with showtimes of 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Willow Theatre in Sugar Sand Park, located at 300 S. Military Trail in Boca Raton. Tickets cost $25. Call 561-347-3948 or visit willowtheatre.org.
Thursdays-Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Saturdays, Sundays, 2 p.m. Starts: Feb. 28. Continues through March 16, 2014