‘Clothespins’ Puts Progress on the Line

Progress takes a back seat to pathos in the California Music Theatre production of “Clothespins and Dreams,” a jazz/gospel/pop musical that made its world premiere Saturday at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. “It takes place in 1911,” explained Ron Miller, who wrote the book and lyrics to Ken Hirsch’s music. (They also collaborated on the musical “Satchmo.”)

“It was the middle of the Industrial Revolution,” he said. “All of these great inventions--and with each, 100 men were out of a job.”

But in this story (based on Tom Harris’ play “Suds”), it’s the women who are in trouble. A group of Harlem laundresses are about to be replaced by a new monster, the electric washing machine. A contest is waged: Suds, the washerwomen’s manager, against the newfangled invention--20 loads, no breaks, in the hot afternoon sun, with Suds’ girls cheering her on. “Impoverished people have an incredible camaraderie,” noted Miller, who grew up poor in Chicago. “They laugh and joke at life. That’s what keeps their sanity.”

Here, they also sing--a lot. “There are 18 songs, 14 hopefully hysterically funny,” said the writer, whose song credits include “Touch Me in the Morning” and “For Once in My Life.” “In one, the women predict the future without knowing it: ‘We’ll have lots of inventions, and they’ll control our lives.’ ” There’s also a grudging admiration for the enemy. “One woman says, ‘This machine can put us out of work, but you’ve got to admit it’s a great invention.’ ”

CMT artistic director Gary Davis directs a cast of 20, headed by Eloise Laws, Barney Martin, Ren Woods and Jordan Bennett.

DOIN’ IT RIGHT: Last year, Everybody’s a Player Productions staged “You Can’t Take It With You” as a benefit for the Stepping Stone Youth Crisis Shelter in Santa Monica. This year they’ve staging Larry Shue’s “The Foreigner” currently running at the First United Methodist Church in Santa Monica. All proceeds again will be donated to Stepping Stone.

Stepping Stone is “the only youth shelter of its kind for homeless or runaway youth 7 to 17,” says Kim Reinking, a spokesperson for the acting company. “They offer food, shelter, clothing and counseling.”

Last year’s “You Can’t Take It With You” netted the shelter approximately $6,000, “or about 85% of what it takes to feed 200 kids per year,” Reinking added. First United Methodist Church is donating its stage. Center Theatre Group came across with costumes, and Omega Cinema Props and Cinebar donated props.

Now it’s the public’s turn.