Through November 23, 2008
Reviewed by Missy Miller
After experiencing the emotional rollercoaster of last week's election, I wasn't sure I would be able to make it through an hour and a half of a politically driven play, but with the brilliance of playwright Heather Raffo coupled with the high caliber direction of the Studio's Artistic Director, Milt Zoth, 9 Parts of Desire travels well beyond the desensitizing political, war-focused rhetoric and arrives at the heart of what really matters when living through war: love and the human condition.
Love of country, culture, family, and self; Raffo thoughtfully illustrates the impact of war from the perspective of nine female characters played by Mary Schnitzler, Sara Renschen, and Brooke Edwards. With a fluid rotation of characters, each of the three actresses successfully creates a lens into the lives and psyche of nine women-including eight Iraqi and one American-by delivering powerful, compelling monologues directly to the audience. Although at times I found myself distracted by the accent choice and inability to understand all of Schnitzler and Renschen's lines, I remained fully engaged and moved by the intimate, candid stories of their characters. Actress Brooke Edwards delivers a remarkable performance transforming from a flamboyant Iraqi artist to a cynical Iraqi doctor. Most impressive is Edwards' brilliant delivery of lines as she sustains a convincing Middle Eastern dialect throughout the course of the play.
Much like the many layers and textures of Desire's nine characters, Set and Lighting Designer Patrick Huber creates a backdrop that adds elements of calm and distress to the production. As the actresses move on and off stage, their interaction with colorful fabrics, tattered furniture, abandoned shoes, pottery and paintings (including a portrait of Saddam Hussein) illuminates the provocative stories shared by the each character. Transitioning from one monologue to the next, Huber's use of light and sound maximizes and adds depth to the intimate space.
Known for his three decades of stage and artistic direction, director Milt Zoth successfully turns Raffo's one-woman show into a three-women series of confessions, contemplations, and candor. By doing so, the distinct differences and shared desires of each of the nine characters becomes increasingly vivid as the play progresses.
I found St. Louis Actors' Studio's production of 9 Parts of Desire as an awakening of sorts, bringing to light the dark, untold stories of those surviving and suffering from war-torn Iraq. Although November 4th is behind us, Heather Raffo's award winning play serves as an important reminder that change is something we all desire.
You can catch St. Louis Actors' Studio's production of 9 Parts of Desire at the Gaslight Theater located at 358 N Boyle November 13th-November 23rd. For tickets and information, go to their website, or call 314-458-2978.
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