Yvonne Martinez Incites US to Be Brave Again

by Mary Lou Herlihy

“Scabmuggers” is full of passion. Spontaneous applause and snapping fingers make it clear—this play is about democracy. WE THE PEOPLE must continually and actively ask: “Which side are you on?”

Playwright Yvonne Martinez tells her story about fighting to be treated with dignity, providing lessons in outsmarting bosses and bullies. While attending a prestigious leadership program at Harvard, designed to educate and empower labor leaders from around the world, she experienced a microcosm of worker-employer prejudice.

Director Tanika Baptiste leads an excellent cast through lofty language and quick scene changes. The story unfolds in several time periods—1994 at Harvard, and 100 years earlier, represented by cloaked women warriors. This is a highly educational production—a meta classroom.

In a magical opening, the cast sings “Bread and Roses,” the famous rallying cry of the 1912 Lawrence Textile Workers Strike. Their beautiful harmonies lift us up. With fists clenched in SOLIDARITY, they shout together: “UNION POWER!”

But power is not given freely. An insecure student questions whether she can represent her Union. Ana (stirring Emily Schuck) feels like a lowly secretary. She confides in classmate Simone (powerful Lucca Troutman) who reassures Ana: “Nobody is JUST a secretary.” Simone recognizes her power.

Meanwhile, two childish male students flaunt their misogyny. Jack (blazing Ryan Lee), a steel worker from Australia, and an American named Kirk (puckish Oscar Harper) make vulgar remarks, inciting the vocal audience.

As the target of prolonged harassment, Ana begins to withdraw but refuses to name her tormentors. Harvard leadership proves useless. The program director Elise (versatile Rachel Clausen) and “Professor” (restrained Erin Gould) become complicit through their inaction.

The Freight stage transforms into a classroom, dorm, and rec center. Constantly moving blocks act as chairs, desks, and a lectern. Classic columns represent THE SYSTEM. A large projection screen shows moving historical footage of significant labor movements.

When the group of students performs a synchronized warrior dance, we understand the power of UNITY. But the students remain in deep discord—a brilliant object lesson.

Tensions rise and students take sides. Jack, Kirk, and Aaron (enigmatic Kennzeil Love) form a core of harassers, marking Ana as their primary target. But Ana isn’t the only one. Painfully shy Kenji (delightful Jin Poon) is deeply humiliated during a drunken debauch.

Other men stand up to the bullies. Denny (commanding Jon-David Randle) a miner from South Africa, and Anthony (compelling Adam KuveNiemann) provide reinforcements. But a nasty turn makes us unsure whom to trust.

As Liz from Australia, Noga Wind offers hilarious comic relief. Liz is tough but funny. As a lesbian, the men leave her alone. As someone who can work with everyone, she is informally selected to give an important graduation speech.

But the bullies refuse to be represented by Liz. They find a way to block her from speaking. While they are off drinking, Ana, the one who suffered the most, triumphantly organizes a strategy to WIN the day.

“Scabmuggers” is loaded with true events that both inform and overload. But all is forgiven because the playwright brilliantly finds a vehicle to share pivotal moments in U.S. Labor History. Worker abuses and later uprisings shock and inspire us to take a stand. We are now facing myriad bullies who silence workers, citizens, and US.

Which side are you on?

 

“Scabmuggers” by Yvonne Martinez, directed by Tanika Baptiste, scenic design by Matt Owens, sound by Alexis Brooks, lighting by Morgan Embry, and costumes by Adriana Gutierrez, at The Freight, Berkeley.

Info: thefreight.org –  Tuesdays, July 7, 14, & 21, 2026.

Cast: Rachel Clausen, Erin Gould, Oscar “Woody” Harper, Ryan Lee, Kennzeil Love, Adam KuveNiemann, Jin Poon, Jon-David Randle, Emily Schuck, Lucca Troutman, and Noga Wind.

Banner photo: Lucca Troutman and Emily Schuck. Photo by Sara Leyva