History repeats itself, but on stage, it hurts a lot more. In Waterwell’s stark docu-play The Ford/Hill Project, the Senate testimonies of Anita Hill and Christine Blasey Ford are sewn together into a single, breathless hour of theater. Co-created by director Lee Sunday Evans and actor Elizabeth Marvel, the production recently hit REDCAT in Los Angeles after runs in New York, using verbatim transcripts to drag America's political hypocrisies back into the light.
If you are wondering what happens when you crosscut between the 1991 Clarence Thomas hearings and the 2018 Brett Kavanaugh circus, the answer is simple. You get a raw, unvarnished look at how institutions protect power while chewing up anyone who challenges it. Also making news in this space: Why Kelela And Her New Avatar Tour Change Everything About Modern R And B.
Reliving the Uncomfortable Truths on Stage
There are no flashy props or melodramatic embellishments here. A small ensemble of actors listens to real audio feeds through in-ear monitors, channeling Hill, Ford, and the defensive senators in real time. They switch roles, swap genders, and rearrange a handful of chairs to represent the shifting power dynamics of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Hearing Hill’s measured, Oklahoma-accented delivery right alongside Ford's devastating recollections creates a strange temporal echo. Twenty-seven years separated their testimonies, yet the script demonstrates an eerie continuity. The same skeptical sneers from lawmakers. The same frantic defense of accused nominees. The same crushing weight placed on women brave enough to speak up. Additional insights on this are covered by The Hollywood Reporter.
The production doesn't need to add editorial commentary. The actual words do the heavy lifting. When actors recount the bizarre inquiries into pornographic references or high school party trauma, it stings because it actually happened.
Why This Docudrama Matters Right Now
Theater that relies strictly on historical transcripts can easily feel dry or academic. The Ford/Hill Project avoids that trap by keeping the emotional stakes terrifyingly high. The cast captures the flop sweat of defensive politicians and the terrifying isolation of witnesses facing down an all-male or male-dominated panel.
It forces you to confront a grim reality. Tribalism wins every time. When your side is accused, you circle the wagons. When the other side is implicated, you demand accountability.
By placing Hill and Ford side by side, the play highlights the brutal arithmetic of political survival. Both women faced intense public scrutiny, character assassination, and professional fallout, while the men they accused ascended to the highest court in the land anyway.
The final image of the production leaves an indelible mark, showing men donning judicial robes while the actors stare down the audience in defiant silence. Go see it if you get the chance, or read the transcripts yourself. Just don't expect to walk out feeling comfortable about how justice works in America.
