Ruined at Mixed Blood Theatre on 10/17/09
By: David de Young
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| Celeste Jones, Regina Marie Williams and Bruce A. Young in Ruined - Publicity photo by Ann Marsden |
At the risk of sounding redundant, since Ruined just won the Pulitzer (St. Paul Pioneer Press Theater critic Dominic Papatola sat on the committee that doled them out this year, by the way), Nottage’s subtly-crafted script is without a doubt one of the stars in this production. The play’s construction is balanced and near perfectly paced, all while handling difficult subjects (gang rape and vaginal mutilation, for example) with what can only be called grace.
Walking into the former firehouse that is now the Mixed Blood performance space, we were greeted by the evocative set by Tom Barrett, which captures the mood of a Congo road house perfectly: Dirt floor. Beat up pool table. Mismatched tables and chairs. All the action of the play takes place inside Mama Nadi’s, just outside it, or in the exposed bed chambers at stage right. Sound design by Katherine Horowitz employed speakers at the sides of the audience as well as in front, giving you a sense of being in the middle of the action while gunfire, car engines and rainstorms occur around you. “The mess is outside,” Mama Nadi says at one point, and to the credit of director Aditi Kapil, one of the many successes of this production is that you feel almost as if you are a guest of Mama Nadi’s yourself, sharing the joys and griefs of the characters.
The plot is essentially simple, with more complex threads and subplots expertly woven in. At the center is the proprietor, Mama Nadi herself (Regina Marie Williams), who has taken in several girls who wait tables and perform various duties as singers, dancers and companions for the male clientele. Traveling salesman Christian (Bruce A. Young) brings Mama Nadi two new girls, one of whom, his niece Sophie, (Celeste Jones) is "ruined." The play's title, which refers to a woman who has been both raped and vaginally mutilated, is silence-inducing each of the times it is spoken aloud. As the action of the play unfolds, local miners, government and rebel soldiers, as well as a precious stones dealer, Mr Harari (Paul Meshejian) frequent the roadhouse and enjoy its offerings, ranging from Fanta to beer and (watered down) whiskey, and of course, the girls themselves. Mama Nadi finds it more and more difficult not to take sides as the civil war rages outside.
The play’s momentum reaches its first energetic peak about the time Commander Osembenga (Irungu Mutu) struts onto the stage as half soldier, half gansta rapper complete with gaudy gold chain. But all members of this strong cast get their chance to shine as their individual stories are revealed. Salima (Aimee Bryant) is at the center of her own terrifying scene, her husband Fortune (Namir Smallwood) stands in the rain for days outside Mama Nadi’s for days, Josephine (Ericka Ratcliff) naively believes she will be taken away to the city by Mr. Harari.
Celeste Jones plays the ruined Sophie with exquisite shyness and sadness and also takes the stage as a singer with the two piece conga and guitar band who provide quite enjoyable musical interludes. Tying it all together, Regina Marie Williams’ performance as Mama Nadi is nothing short of fiery.
How it all plays out is both heartwarming and surprising. Somehow, a play about the atrocities of rape and murder in a war-torn country is ultimately uplifting. And the energy in the room was palpable during the curtain call as the full audience gave a deserved standing ovation.
Ruined runs through November 22nd. Tickets are selling fast (opening night sold out) so reservations are recommended.
Location Info:
Mixed Blood Theatre
Artist Info: Mixed Blood Theatre
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