A Guilty Pleasure

Ensemble Theatre Company ended its 46th season at the New Vic with the southern California premiere of Justice by Lauren Gunderson, a visceral exploration of courage, legacy, friendship, and the enduring influence of three extraordinary women – Sandra Day O’Connor, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Sonia Sotomayor – and their impact on the U.S. Supreme Court.

O’Connor  – the first female judge on the U.S. Supreme Court – is played by Heather Avers. Valerie Perri plays the “notorious” Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the court’s first Jewish woman to serve, and in her ETC debut, Julie Garnyé portrays Sotomayor, the first Latina judge.

Veteran director Jenny Sullivan did an excellent job with the 90-minute musical show, which features 17 numbers played by local composer Sio Tepper on piano and guitar.

Canadian François-Pierre Couture’s scenic design is simple but powerful, with the message ‘Equal Justice Under Law’ carved into the historic building’s portico in Washington, D.C.

This is a guilty pleasure you can’t miss. It runs through June 22.