Four Women in Red Review – An Indigenous Tragedy

Penned by Laura Shamas (Chickasaw Nation), FOUR WOMEN IN RED makes its world premiere at the Victory Theatre Center in Burbank in 2025. Playwright Shamas probes the mystery of missing and murdered indigenous women in the U.S. with an all indigenous cast including Harriette Feliz (Chumash), Zoey Reyes (Dineh and Chicana), Carolyn Dunn (Tunica-Choctaw/Biloxi/Mvskoke), and Jehnean Washington (Yuchi, Seminole, and Shoshone). Indigenous women are currently facing an epidemic of violence with some of the highest rates of physical and sexual violence in the nation. Sad to say, this is an American crisis which is nearly unknown to the majority of American citizens.

Zoey Reyes, Harriette Feliz, Jehnean Washington, and Carolyn Dunn – Photo by Tim Sullens

“FOUR WOMEN IN RED exposes an issue that touches nearly every Native family, yet one that most people are completely unaware of,” explains director Jeanette Harrison: “Deb Haaland, the outgoing Secretary of the Interior under Biden – and the first Native woman ever appointed to a cabinet position – has started the Missing and Murdered Unit (MMU), so this is a particular moment in history. If we can let people know the true impact of programs like this, it may help.”

Harriette Feliz, Jehnean Washington, Carolyn Dunn, and Zoey Reyes – Photo by Tim Sullens

FOUR WOMEN IN RED was first developed by Native Voices, the only Actors’ Equity theater company in the country dedicated to developing and producing new plays by Native artists. This shocking and provocative play was initially written during the pandemic for a virtual Native Voices short play festival and later expanded to its current full version. Selected for the 2022 Native Voices Festival of New Plays, FOUR WOMEN IN RED is the first play developed by Native Voices to be produced by another Los Angeles theater – and the recipient of the prestigious Los Angeles New Play Project grant, as well as partial support by a Burbank Community Arts grant.

Zoey Reyes and Jehnean Washington – Photo by Tim Sullens

The time is now, and the place is a remote reservation in “the lower 48.” Lynda (Carolyn Dunn) and her daughter Jo (Harriette Feliz) are waiting in the Sheriff’s office for updated news about Lynda’s other daughter, a woman who disappeared and has been missing for two years. Marie (Jehnean Washington) is also awaiting news about two female relatives who both went missing in the past few years, while Sadie (Zoey Reyes) despondently waits for news about Becky, her partner, missing for a few months. The four Native American women are desperate to find their missing relatives and friends – but the American justice system has proven to be apathetic despite their pleas. After all, there are important jurisdictional issues which must be addressed. U.S. law enforcement has no authority to operate on reservation land, while reservation law enforcement has no authority to deal with off-reservation land. A conundrum which has led to almost no serious investigations into the disappearance of thousands of missing Native American women. Will indigenous women banding together change the situation?

Carolyn Dunn – Photo by Tim Sullens

Harrison does an excellent job of helming this controversial and poignant subject assisted by the very involved cast of four Native Americans. You may ask, “Why women in red?” It seems that most indigenous tribal beliefs opine that the spirit world can only see red, and so – while calling on them for help – supplicants should wear red. FOUR WOMEN IN RED is fascinating, entertaining, educational – and a must-see for anyone interested in a current incendiary topic which is also a mystery with political ramifications. If you’re lucky enough to participate in a talk-back after the show, you’ll find that it’s a real eye-opener.

Carolyn Dunn and Jehnean Washington at the Talk-Back after the show – Photo by Elaine L. Mura

FOUR WOMEN IN RED runs through March 23, 2025, with performances at 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and at 4 p.m. on Sundays. The Victory Theatre Centre is located at 3326 W. Victory Blvd., Burbank, CA 91505. Tickets range from $20 to $41. For information and reservations, call 818-841-5421 or go online.