2008 Woodie Awards
'Maiden' looks into politics and torture
Kyle Kuphal
Issue date: 11/1/07 Section: Intermission
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Sunday's performance of Ariel Dorfman's drama "Death and the Maiden," in the Arena Stage in the basement of the Performing Arts Center provided an important look at the effects of political turmoil and the torture that sometimes accompanies it.
Professor of theater, film studies and dance Brenda Wentworth directed the play, which was written by Dorfman while he was living in the United States after fleeing his home country of Chile during the brutal rule of military leader Augusto Pinochet.
In the play, the lead character, Paulina, played by Amber McGuire, is waiting for her husband to come home late one night, when a strange car pulls into the drive way.
The car turns out to be that of Roberto, a doctor, played by Tyler Fetzek, who picked up Paulina's husband Gerardo, played by Jay Terry, on the side of the road after his car got a flat tire.
Paulina, who was held captive, tortured and raped during the dictatorship that previously ruled the country, believes the doctor is one of the men who tortured and raped her during her confinement.
For this reason, Paulina holds the doctor at gunpoint, tapes him to a chair and demands he confess the things he did to her. The problem is that the doctor claims to be innocent and to have no idea what she is talking about.
Meanwhile Gerardo, her husband, is stuck in the middle of the situation, unsure whether she is projecting her bottled up anger onto an innocent man or if the doctor is in fact the man she claims he is.
The play ends leaving the audience unsure whether Paulina killed the doctor. It also leaves the audience pondering the lasting impact torture can have on it's victims.
Today especially this is an important thing for Americans to ponder. In the minds of some people around the world, the United States is guilty of causing political turmoil and committing acts of torture.
For this reason, some of them, much like Paulina, decide to take justice into their own hands in the form of acts of revenge or even terrorism.
The play was well done, and at times the convincing anger and passion of McGuire's character could make the hairs on your arms stand up and nearly bring you to tears.
Through the combined efforts of scenic designer David R. Borron, costume designer Jeffrey Bleam, lighting designer Adam Raine, audio designer Walter Napiorkowski, along with the actors and director, the play successfully drew the audience into the action and captivated their attention.
I would definitely recommend the play to others with the suggestion to think about it in the broader aspect of the issue of torture, the effects it has on people and the continuous cycle of violence it can set in motion.
Professor of theater, film studies and dance Brenda Wentworth directed the play, which was written by Dorfman while he was living in the United States after fleeing his home country of Chile during the brutal rule of military leader Augusto Pinochet.
In the play, the lead character, Paulina, played by Amber McGuire, is waiting for her husband to come home late one night, when a strange car pulls into the drive way.
The car turns out to be that of Roberto, a doctor, played by Tyler Fetzek, who picked up Paulina's husband Gerardo, played by Jay Terry, on the side of the road after his car got a flat tire.
Paulina, who was held captive, tortured and raped during the dictatorship that previously ruled the country, believes the doctor is one of the men who tortured and raped her during her confinement.
For this reason, Paulina holds the doctor at gunpoint, tapes him to a chair and demands he confess the things he did to her. The problem is that the doctor claims to be innocent and to have no idea what she is talking about.
Meanwhile Gerardo, her husband, is stuck in the middle of the situation, unsure whether she is projecting her bottled up anger onto an innocent man or if the doctor is in fact the man she claims he is.
The play ends leaving the audience unsure whether Paulina killed the doctor. It also leaves the audience pondering the lasting impact torture can have on it's victims.
Today especially this is an important thing for Americans to ponder. In the minds of some people around the world, the United States is guilty of causing political turmoil and committing acts of torture.
For this reason, some of them, much like Paulina, decide to take justice into their own hands in the form of acts of revenge or even terrorism.
The play was well done, and at times the convincing anger and passion of McGuire's character could make the hairs on your arms stand up and nearly bring you to tears.
Through the combined efforts of scenic designer David R. Borron, costume designer Jeffrey Bleam, lighting designer Adam Raine, audio designer Walter Napiorkowski, along with the actors and director, the play successfully drew the audience into the action and captivated their attention.
I would definitely recommend the play to others with the suggestion to think about it in the broader aspect of the issue of torture, the effects it has on people and the continuous cycle of violence it can set in motion.