At the Theatre Centre, Toronto, Ont.
Written by Colleen Wagner
Directed by Ines Buchli
Performed by: Kaleb Alexander
Beryl Bain
Francoise Balthazar
Cindy Block
Miriam Fernandes
Gabrielle Graham
Stephanie Jung
Anita La Selva
Richard Lee
Wayne Ward
Playwright Colleen Wagner writes of people surviving harrowing situations. In The Monument the mother of a dead daughter comes face to face with the soldier that killed her. What she does to him is harrowing. What he learns from it is shattering.
In The Living Wagner continues that theme of war, revenge, justice and responsibility. We could be in any war-torn country. Several men, who served 10 years jail time for war crimes are newly released to their home villages or towns. One raped, pillaged and mutilated three sisters and raped their mother who lived. It’s unsettling. Personal damage is everywhere—for the survivors and their attackers. The survivors fear retaliation by their attackers.
The man who killed the sisters and raped their mother has now come home. He is haunted by the ghosts of the three women he killed. Their mother is sick and silent—she never actually accused him. Now she gets her voice. The solution of how he should pay for this new accusation is intriguing.
The Living is a sobering play, certainly unsettling but powerful and loaded with poetry and even forgiveness. Wagner illuminates the bravery and resilience of the survivors.
The acting is strong as is Ines Buchli’s direction.
www.summerworks.ca
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
elysabeth – I didn’t realise it was only in the UK. I guess it makes sense tuhgoh. It would be a bit silly to hold the same contest in the North America.holly – nice to see you in the blogosphere again! I think it is interesting how North Americans seem to like the North American one and brits the UK one. Kind of shows that those publishers may know what they are doing eh?david – so close! And by close I mean, no, no you are completely and utterly wrong and you should be very very very ashamed of yourself.