Solo Performance
The Story of a Nice White Lady
(Nice is a four letter word)
Review by Rebecca Potts KingsRiverLife.com
Is there a Nice White Lady in your life who might need some …enlightenment? Houston Robertson brings a satirical, eye-opening and hilarious performance to the stage with her one-woman show, Story of a Nice White Lady: Nice is a Four-Letter Word. Complete with story time and sing alongs, Robertson highlights the clueless racism and homophobia that is all too common among Nice White Ladies and recounts her personal experiences living as the daughter of one – and even becoming one herself.
You’ll hear memories of growing up with segregation in the 1940s, the “Country Club Values” that took place of Christian ones in her church, and the harsh realities that revealed themselves as Robertson tried to become the perfect activist Nice White Lady. You’ll even get to hear the newest recipients of the “Becky Awards”!
And while you’ll laugh through almost all the performance, Robertson brings very real and current social problems to light and doesn’t shy away from topics not typically talked about today. The show is a must-see for any Nice White Lady who needs a jolt back to reality – or anyone who likes to laugh.
Audience reviews:
Fantastic show. A must see. Funny, poignant, and sometimes cringy (but for all the right self-reflective reasons).
White privilege is so NICE! Houston Robertson weaves together moving autobiography, a kid’s sing-a-long, off-hand racism, and a clear-eyed look at her own choices and changes, lovers and book group buds, Becky Sharpe and Michael Che. As telling as her analysis is of the behavior of others, the show is at it’s most moving and transformative when she delves deep into her own feeling.
Upcoming Performances
*January 30, 2020. 8:00 PM Playground Solo Fest 1695 18th Street, San Francisco
*February 9, 2020. 7:00 PM Playground Solo Fest 1695 18th Street, San Francisco
The PlayGround Solo Performance Festival is PlayGround’s annual celebration of the best in Bay Area solo performance, with twelve double-bill performances over three weeks. https://playground-sf.org/solofest/ This year’s festival was curated as a celebration of the intersectionality and diversity that exemplifies Bay Area artistry. Tickets for the double bill you select are $31.50-$46.50. Houston’s performs The Story of a Nice White Lady on Thursday, January 30 at 8:00 pm and Sunday, February 9 at 7:00 pm. Contact Houston for a $10 discount. Your ticket is for two shows. Houston performs first each evening. Now going on its third year, the next Solo Fest will take place January 23-February 9, 2020 at Potrero Stage, 1695 18th St. San Francisco.
*March 6-14. Rogue Festival, Fresno CA. 5 performances. March 6 at 7 pm. March 7 at 6:30, March 8 at 3:30, March 13 at 8:30. March 14 at 3:30. $10.
*April 1, 2020. 7:30 PM. Marsh Rising, The Marsh San San Francisco. 1062 Valencia, San Francisco. The April 1 show will be rescheduled. 15. https://themarsh.org/shows_and_events/marsh-rising/rising/
In The Story of a Nice White Lady, clueless racism and homophobia get shredded by 83-year-old force of nature Houston Robertson in this hilarious and confessional scolding of nice white ladies everywhere. From churches to jazz clubs, from women’s marches to the White House, Houston bursts the bubble of good intentions, and reminds us that nice is a four-letter word. The show radiates with honesty and wit. Houston is a gutsy storyteller and brings to her solo work her experience as a writer, motivational speaker, and award willing clown. The show was developed with Don Reed (donreedcomedy.com) and Mark Kenward (markkenward.com). It is directed by Mark Kenward.
Comments about The Story of a Nice White Lady:
Sassy, amusing, and smart. Houston bursts the bubble of good intentions. Even her own.
Charming, irreverent, and overall fun show.
A great evening of amusing insights.
Link to 20 minute version of The Story of a Nice White Lady:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaKK3re4Wec
Become a producer in the greater San Francisco Bay Area. Make The Nice White Lady a party for family, friends, colleagues, the book club or your happy hour crew! I will also consider doing the show as a fundraiser for your organization. No technical support required. Provide a space (your living room? The neighborhood pub? The library meeting room? ???).
Discuss your budget with Houston. I'll bet we can work something out. To get started, contact Houston at bhoustonrobertson@gmail.com. Put Nice White Lady in the subject line.
Victory for the Recycled Virgin--Bourbon, Dating, and Clowning Around
The delayed adolescence of a 1950's virgin bride and the blossoming of a sexy, independent woman. In this solo work, Houston exposes her roots as a 1950's virgin bride and the culture bred lies that she and her husband have been living. When a sudden revelation on the cusp of their 21st anniversary launches the painful collapse of the marriage, Houston catapults into a delayed adolescence that triggers a better-late-than-never blossoming into a sexy, independent woman. Or am I a take charge bitch, she wonders. Houston generously offers tips to the audience for parenting their own mothers through a delayed adolescence. For example: “Don’t expect your mother to tell you about the drugs. She won’t. I didn’t.”
Sassy, sexy and absolutely charming--captivating and wickedly funny.
Her story of personal liberation is a must see for younger women.
Robertson is the real story. Winnipeg Free Press. Four Stars.
Audience Comments
Fearless and funny
Chilling, thrilling, witty and wild
Radiant. You touched my heart.
Houston is kick-ass funny
Best onstage orgasm ever!
Link to Snippets of Victory for the Recycled Virgin:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgWXMUO2j0k&t=59s
This bittersweet, refreshingly honest, and wickedly funny sixty minute one-woman show has captivated audiences across the U.S. and Canada including a run of shows at The Marsh Berkeley.
Recent Shows
Carquinez Village organization, Oakland Peace Center, Tell It On Tuesday, The Marsh Berkeley, Solo Sundays, StageWerx, SF, seven shows at the Edmonton Fringe Theatre Festival.
This piece is a passionately performed autobiography by the talented Houston Robertson. Victory for the Recycled Virgin is a funny and inspiring tale of a woman going through a midlife adolescence and discovering new passions.
Robertson portrays each character in her story brilliantly. Cody Boyd, Edmonton VUE, 4 stars
REVIEWS
Houston is a gutsy 82 year old storyteller who must have been the inspiration for the saying "put your big girl pants on and deal with it." Her one hour play wouldn't have been nearly as entertaining if she had kept them on. Heather Emberly Community News Commons
I saw the best play I've seen all year performed by the effervescent and audacious Houston. She takes life lightly but seriously. For the past two years Houston's been honing her now flawless Solo Show “Victory for the Recycled Virgin” by performing at Fringe Festivals all over the place with great success. Last evening she made her debut at the prestigious Marsh Theatre. Houston goes beyond emotional limits I didn’t know she possessed. She’s frank, jaw droppingly frank, and so honest in the story she shares with us. Her director has shaped the piece into a theme park adventure. One moment you’re roaring with glee, the next shocked and saddened as Houston relates salient points in her journey to age 79. I hope the show will soon get the long run it deserves. Walt Anthony, Spellbinder Entertainment.
"The Buddha got his insights getting bird crapped on while sitting under a Bodhi Tree. Houston arrives at the same realizations following a much more enticing path of bourbon, dating and clowning around." San Diego Theatre Arts Review.
"One of the bravest performances I have seen in this year's Fringe." EdgeMediaNetwork San Diego
“Houston’s insanely expressive and inspiring spirit brings smiles and tears.” Keith Boudreau, The Mysterium
Houston Robertson brings to her newest creative venture, Solo Performance, her experience as a writer, storyteller and motivational speaker and her love of theater. She meshes these skills with a commanding stage presence in her solo work for the stage. Houston claims her life as Ribbons the Clown on the streets of San Francisco in the mid 1980's as her first solo performance.
Houston is fortunate to live the San Francisco Bay Area, home of a significant solo performance community where she receives generous nurturing in this demanding performance form. Her performance is developed with and directed by Mark Kenward (www.markkenward.com). Kenward is a remarkable performer and an insightful and motivating director.
Houston is a force to be enjoyed. Her commanding stage presence makes it easy to feel part of her mid-life escapades whether poignant, funny, or heartbreaking. She translates the integrity of her personal experience into a highly credible universal voice. She has performed at The Marsh San Francisco, The Marsh Berkeley, Stage Werx, and Fringe Festivals across the USA and Canada.
Contact Houston to comment on the show, book a performance, or suggest a performance venue. Email at bhoustonrobertson@gmail.com.
Indicate Speaking, Performance, or Stand-Up Comedy in the subject line.