Mary Birdsong’s one-woman show shines the blue light special on some touchy subjects- revealing the funny in food stamps, the wacky in welfare, and the dangers of… découpage!

The Respectable Race has been performed at Gotham City Improv and PSNBC/HERE in New York City, and has also appeared at The HBO Workspace in Los Angeles. Written By Mary Birdsong, and directed by Julie Kramer, this show was the first truly autobiographical show for Mary. It addresses many issues, one of which is welfare. Welfare was started to provide three basic necessities to those in need: food, shelter, and clothing. Mary took this idea and ran with it. By examining her shelter (which was nicely furnished with someone else’s rejected trash), her thrift-shop clothing (nothing pricier than 5 bucks, please!), and the food in her cupboard (compliments of the local church charity group), Mary examines issues of shame, pride, and the powerful healing properties of Dolly Parton!