Musing About "The Oldest Profession"

I laugh about this show, and refer to it as "The Old Ho Show," but there really is a lot more to it than the maunderings of a group of superannuated prostitutes.

It's about economics. It's about choices. It's about outliving one's usefulness. It's about aging. It's about friendship. It's about survival.

These women were prostitutes in Storeyville. Storeyville was the red light district of New Orleans, and prostitution was legal there. Unfortunately, in the early 20th century, there were a lot of military men in the area, and their commanders ordered the place shut down. This particular group of five "girls," headed by the intrepid Mae, migrated north to New York, where they set up a lucrative trade.

Mae was careful with her "girls," and they stayed healthy and out of jail. They have maintained "regulars," for whom they have some affection. By the time the play opens, they are just starting to worry about the future. There is money in the bank, but day-to-day living is eating away at their capital. Their "gentlemen" are getting old, too. Not a lot of job security there.

One by one, the women die off. Lillian is the first, followed by Mae, which throws the remaining three into a tailspin. Ursula takes over as madam, and invests their precarious savings in a scheme and loses it all. When she dies, leaving Edna and Vera, the two of them decide to retire from The Trade and work as aides in a nursing home.

Vera, the last one, is the least capable of being on her own, and dies, a bag lady on "their" bench.

As each one dies, she goes to "ho heaven," which is back to their salad days in Storeyville. They were in a "house" there, which represents security. The group stays together and gathers around the next one to pass, drawing her in and welcoming her "home."

The story is very poignant, and in between the laughter are tears, and you will leave the theater thoughtful and cognizant of your own mortality.

...Because most of us sell something out in order to get by.