While certainly ambitious, this drama following the story of the Mercury 13 — the 13 female U.S. pilots who, in 1959, began training in earnest to become the first women in space only to have their program squashed — ultimately fails to launch.

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This article was published 3/7/2019 (877 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

While certainly ambitious, this drama following the story of the Mercury 13 — the 13 female U.S. pilots who, in 1959, began training in earnest to become the first women in space only to have their program squashed — ultimately fails to launch.

This has the bones of a good play. Unfortunately, it’s bogged down by way too many props and distracting costumes that, while period, slow down the pace of the show. Nearly every lighting and blocking cue was blown in a way that suggests fundamental structural problems, not mere technical kinks.

The story was confusing and the ending abrupt, sending this reviewer to Wikipedia after the show. And most of the performances oscillated between not big enough and too cartoonishly over-the-top; an actor should never sound like they’re wearing a wig, you know?

One bright spot was Ruth Reitze's understated yet compelling performance of record-breaking aviation pioneer Geraldyn "Jerrie" Cobb, who unsuccessfully lobbied congress for NASA to include women in its astronaut training program. She stole every scene she was in.

Unfortunately, the rest of the show just wasn’t ready for liftoff.

— Jen Zoratti