Photos by Thee Photo Ninja
In my time as a theatre reviewer, there have been certain theatrical performances that entertain and educate, and then there are those rare productions that manage to do both while leaving you wanting to do a deep dive after the curtain falls. All Things Equal: The Life and Trials of Ruth Bader Ginsburg is one of those extraordinary experiences that I witnessed on stage.
At the center of this remarkable production is Michelle Azar, who delivers a captivating portrayal of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. For more than 90 minutes, Azar commands the stage as Ginsburg, taking the audience on an intimate journey through the life, career, challenges and triumphs of one of the most consequential legal figures in American history.
What makes her performance so effective is the way she brings Ginsburg to life not simply as a historical figure, but as a woman reflecting on the decisions that shaped her life and the landmark moments that helped shape the nation. She truly captures Ginsburg’s determination, intelligence, wit and humanity, creating the feeling that the audience is sitting across from her as she recounts her extraordinary journey.
The production’s single-performer format could easily become static in less capable hands. Instead, Azar keeps the audience completely engaged at every step. Her command presence, the pacing of the story and the emotional shifts throughout the evening make the more than 90-minute running time fly by. There is a remarkable intimacy to watching Ginsburg tell her own story, and Azar makes every moment feel purposeful and graceful. Michelle as RBG was a force to reckon with and we were along for the ride!
Much of the credit also belongs to playwright Rupert Holmes, whose writing is both intelligent and accessible. Holmes has crafted a script that successfully transforms decades of legal history into compelling theater. Rather than presenting a dry chronology of events, he gives Ginsburg a voice through which the audience can understand the personal stakes behind the cases, the obstacles she faced and the significance of the decisions she helped shape.
The production shines particularly when it explores the landmark cases associated with Ginsburg’s career including 1972 case of Reed v. Reed, 404 U.S. 71 and the landmark 1972 reproductive rights case Struck v. Secretary of Defense. Holmes provides enough context to make the legal battles understandable without overwhelming the audience with legal terminology. More importantly, the play demonstrates why those cases mattered — not only to Ginsburg personally, but to the broader evolution of American law and society. One of the production’s greatest accomplishments is that it sends you home wanting to do your own homework.
As the various cases and pivotal moments unfold, it becomes almost impossible not to think, I want to learn more about that case. That is the mark of truly effective historical theater. All Things Equal doesn’t simply tell you what happened; it sparks curiosity about the history behind the story and encourages audiences to continue exploring it after leaving the theater. As a longtime American history buff, the production did the impossible; it captured my love of the theatre, reading and listening to people’s memoirs and learning more about American history.
Azar’s captivating performance and Holmes’ writing work beautifully together. Holmes provides the words and the historical framework, while Azar supplies the emotional connection that makes those words resonate. Together, they transform what could have been a straightforward biographical presentation into an engaging, intimate and thoroughly compelling piece of theater.
There is also something particularly powerful about hearing Ginsburg reflect on the choices she made throughout her life — the risks she took, the battles she chose to fight and the moments when persistence ultimately paid off. The production illustrates how seemingly individual decisions can have consequences that extend far beyond one person’s lifetime.
All Things Equal: The Life and Trials of Ruth Bader Ginsburg is ultimately much more than a biography brought to the stage. It is a fascinating history lesson, a character study and an engaging theatrical experience all rolled into one.
Michelle Azar’s extraordinary performance makes you feel as though Ruth Bader Ginsburg is in the room telling you her story herself. Rupert Holmes’ superb writing ensures that the story is not only informative but consistently entertaining and thought-provoking.
For anyone interested in American history, the Supreme Court, women’s rights, the law — or simply a great piece of theater — All Things Equal is a production worth seeing with your eyes and an open mind. And don’t be surprised if you find yourself searching for those landmark cases when you get home.
That may be the production’s greatest achievement: It doesn’t just tell you about Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s remarkable life. It makes you want to keep learning about it.
FINAL GRADE: A+
All Things Equal: The Life and Trials of Ruth Bader Ginsburg is now performing at the M&T Bank Exchange until September 19th for three more shows. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster, click HERE to purchase.
If you want to know when All Things Equal is coming to your city, go to ALL THINGS EQUAL – THE STANDER GROUP
Finally, Here’s my interview with the play’s star, Michelle Azar. Click HERE to read it
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