Grade: A

Remember the girl from college who never seemed to lose the idealism of youth? The one who was going to save the world from “Them” and from itself? Would you like to know what she's doing these days?

Go down to The Kitchen Theater in Ithaca and catch her one-woman show, “The Accidental Activist.” By the way, her name is Kathryn Blume, and she's very, very good.

“The Accidental Activist” details the events in Blume's own life that led her to become a co-creator of one of the world's most unique theatrical events; the March 3rd, 2003, Lysistrata Project, more than 1,000 readings in 59 countries of the Greek anti-war comedy in which the men of Greece are forced to end a war when their women unite to deny them sex.

Blume is an extraordinary

performer, honest and com-

pelling, perfectly focused and possessing enormous charm and presence.

Only a few minutes into the

production you get the feeling

that you are in a personal (if

one-sided) conversation with a friend.

Her script for the play is immediately engaging and enormously funny. Satire is enormously difficult to pull off, but Blume delivers with precision andpanache.

There are generous dollops of self-deprecation and more than enough political harangue to

satisfy the most liberal among

us.

Jason Jacobs' direction is crisp and the play is beautifully

paced. Tim Reppert's sound is

flawless and the projections by Chris Kalb are inventive and captivating. Owen Walz provides a solid lighting design for his simple, utile set.

Due to mature themes and language, this play is not suitable for younger children.

If you go

What: “The Accidental Activist”

When: Now through May 13

Where: Kitchen Theatre, 116 N. Cayuga St., Ithaca

For details: Call the box office at (607) 273-4497 or visit www.kitchentheatre.org