With acute honesty, shrewd intelligence, soft humor, and more than a bit of poignancy, lawyer and retired judge Amy Oppenheimer presents her 50-year search for love and justice in the debut performance of “Looking for Justice (In All the Wrong Places),” her 65-minute biographical solo show at Berkeley’s The Marsh.
Her performance recalls the early days of her high school radicalism, her 1970s feminism, and her pioneering legal career fighting against discrimination and sexual harassment. She also recounts her youthful sexual life, her first awakening as a lesbian feminist, and her current life in a committed relationship with two adopted children.
We also learn about Oppenheimer’s frustration with the imperfections of our legal system. No matter what aspect of the law she practiced, Oppenheimer was confronted by inequities and limitations. Shouldn’t a mineworker be eligible to receive his full pension even though two years of his early 1930s records have been lost? Is prison the fairest result in all cases, or would a form of restorative justice be more appropriate? These questions still haunt her.
Oppenheimer is a skilled performer who smoothly acts all the roles without props or costume swaps. She distinguishes among the various characters using only variations in her voice. Occasionally, fragments of popular songs are used to characterize each era. It would have been fun to hear more of them.
We learn a lot about the forces that impelled Oppenheimer’s life and career, as well as her personal regrets and losses. In a particularly poignant scene, Oppenheimer describes her early participation in a friend’s court case and her role during the trial. She still seems haunted by whether justice was served.
Directed by David Ford, “Looking for Justice (In All the Wrong Places)” is an authentic, deep, and personal story. I applaud Oppenheimer for having the courage and talent to let it all hang out. It would be difficult to write that intimately, let alone perform on stage.
I attended the opening night of “Looking for Justice (In All the Wrong Places)” with two lawyers, one of whom is the dean of my old law school. As lawyers, we would have liked to learn more about Oppenheimer’s legal career, but the whole performance resonated with us, and we were impressed with her life choices, courage, and talent.
“Looking for Justice (In All the Wrong Places)” is playing at 5:00 PM on Sundays at The Marsh, 2120 Alston Way, Berkeley, through March 29, 2026. For tickets ($25-$35 sliding scale, $50-$100 reserved). Oppenheimer partners with a rotating slate of nonprofit organizations for post-show audience talkbacks, every performance spotlighting a different cause to which funds will be donated.
The Marsh, with branches in San Francisco and Berkeley, refers to itself as “a breeding ground for new performance.” It specializes in presenting solo shows and in helping writers, comedians, and actors develop their material. The Marsh has several classes where students can write and hone their craft. It’s a great venue for novice and experienced entertainers.
By Emily S. Mendel
© Emily S. Mendel 2026 All Rights Reserved
