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Black Diamond
The Years the Locusts have Eaten
By J. Nicole Brooks
Directed by J. Nicole Brooks & David Catlin
At Lookingglass Theatre
In the Water Tower Water Works
821 N. Michigan
Chicago, IL
Call 312-337-0665, tickets $20 - $50
Tuesdays at 6:30 pm
Wednesdays at 7 pm
Thursdays at 6:30 pm
Fridays at 7 pm
Saturdays at 3 & 8 pm
Sundays at 3 pm
Running time is 2 hours, 20 minutes with intermission
Through May 20, 2007
Bleak look at African genocide riveting theatre
Lookinglass Theatre’s world premiere of Black Diamond is a stylized, realistic civil war tale of an elite group of rebel female fighters determined to oust Charles Taylor for running Liberia in West Africa. Seen from the point of view of Jim Fox (Jason Delane) an American journalist reporting for the BBC, Black Diamond is inspired by true events from one of Africa’s most violent civil wars in the last few decades. Gang warfare, children soldiers as well as female fighters both suffer and inflict pain and suffering in a free zone of killing. Diamonds and gold and political power, as well as revenge motivate these fighters. The infamous Black Diamond (Alana Arenas) is the female colonel in the liberation army of Liberia. We see the troubles in Liberia from her perspective.
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Through stylized dream sequences and dramatic scenes, the life-altering pains of war are emotionally presented as we learn of the abuses these women and children suffer in a vicious war. Rape, murder and torture reign here as we witness the struggles of a group of determined women to rid their country of oppression. A blend of African mystical ritual and American fantasy consisting of old-time vaudevillian comic satire drive home the political ironies and realities of contradiction these conflict mirror. Black Diamond personalizes war as it aptly demonstrates the humanity or lack of humanity in such conflicts. We are moved and appalled at what we witness. The terrific ensemble work was brave and emotionally based. Alana Arenas and Jason Delante were particularly effective as the BBC reporter and the female fighter.
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Black Diamond dramatically profiles the human rights violations and the degradation of raging civil war. One can hardly we indifferent to the plight of children soldiers and violated woman after seeing Black Diamond. Kudos to Lookingglass Theatre for spotlighting this ignored human tragedy.
Recommended
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast
Date Reviewed: April 18, 2007
Jeff Recommended
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