As a runaway from an abusive father, Kate is a new girl when she arrives at VicMu in more ways than one. We discuss her strict religious upbringing, her passion for singing, and her relationship with Betty.

Drink Special: Gimlet

2.5 oz. gin or vodka
0.5 oz. lime cordial
0.5 oz. fresh lime juice

Runaway / New Identity

• Abusive father
• Strict religious background
• She is kind of like an Amish kid on rumspringa, trying out new things that she wasn’t allowed to before
• Need for security papers leads to her doing cheesecake photos
• Making up a new family when Ivan asks
• How the war affects Kate’s storyline

The New Girl

• Blends in fairly easily, has a much easier time than Gladys
• Common “new girl-ness” helps form friendship between Kate & Gladys
• Kind of acts as a guide to working class women for Gladys

Churchmouse

• Develops her singing through her relationship with Leon
• “Before I used to sing to feel something. Now I feel something and then I sing.“
• Exposure to jazz, blues, scat singing (“Betty’s at the door”!!!)
• Burlesque act

Post-Dather’s-Death

• Makes her question her religious beliefs, who she is as a person
• Sally says: “What I don’t have a firm sense of is whether Kate honestly loves Ivan, or whether dating him was a reaction to Betty’s awkward advance and her own recoiling from it, informed by her religious upbringing. I got the sense also that Ivan was a rebound – not that Kate was rebounding from Betty, but that the whirlwind romance was part of her reaction to finally having thrown off her oppressive family and life.”

Relationship with Betty

• “You don’t need everybody liking you – just the ones that matter.”
• Did Kate really mean what she said when she left at the end of season 1? Or was she just paying lip service to her father?
• Strong reaction to Betty kissing her
• Tells Leon that the Bible judges Betty harshly
• Seems a bit jealous of Teresa
• Loves Betty but does she love Betty?

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