Sail On, Sweet Liberal

Mention ecology in a crowd of liberals and one out of every three will achieve climax. It is a passionate word, and activists react to it with predictable abandon. But while the term may excite a liberal, and its application save the world, can the idea sustain a musical revue? The answer is, sort of.

Ron Thronson (book and lyrics) and Toni Shearer (music) are putting the notion to a test with the American Conservatory Theater’s San Francisco production of Mother Earth, a new revue somewhat after the manner of Hair, though not so hairy.