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Ruined
By Lynn Nottage
Directed by Kate Whoriskey
At the Goodman’s Owen Theatre
170 N. Dearborn
Chicago, IL
Call 312-443-3800 www.goodmantheatre.org
Tuesdays & Wednesdays at 7:30 pm
Thursdays at 7:30 pm
Fridays at 8 pm
Saturdays at 2 & 8 pm
Sundays at 2 & 7:30 pm
Running time is 2 hours, 30 minutes with intermission
Through December 14, 2008
Riveting drama of the horrors of civil war in Africa on women awaits
Lynn Nottage and the Goodman Theatre are to be congratulated for dramatizing the atrocities committed against women in the long civil war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Nottage puts her immense research and writing skills to work to create situations and characters aptly depicting the conflicts in East Africa from a women’s perspective.
“Ruined” is set in present-day DRC and it covers the captivating story of Mama Nadi (the fabulous Saidah Arrika Ekuloma), the owner of a café/canteen/brothel that serves everything from cigarettes to beer to hot food to the company of a woman. Mama and her girls are survivors from the ravages of civil war. Christian (Russell G. Jones), is the savvy businessman who supplies and protects Mama and her whorehouse while making a hefty profit from them. Christian has a long seeded love for Mama that blossoms throughout the show.
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Mama Nadi’s place is neutral ground in the Congo rainforest where the men come to unwind, drink and battle for the bodies of the ladies. The ladies are each damaged; some physically with sexual mutilation; some from psychological torture from being gang raped. The soldiers from both the government and the rebels share the blame for such actions. Mama seeks to protect all her girls. Sophie (Condola Phyleia Rashad) is an intelligent, education woman with whom Mama particularly likes while Salima (Quincy Tyler Bernstine) is a pregnant rape victim on the brink of despair. Mama works hard to keep the two warring groups from destroying both the girls and her business. She is a survivor and a strong negotiator. We see how shifting alliances, betrayal and brute savagery rules in the war torn region.
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Nottage dramatizes the brutality of rape and sexual mutilation while also offering a hopeful love story that has Mama finding someone her loves her (Christian). There are tender moments that show the real beauty of these ‘ruined’ souls offering a glimpse of the human spirit as it triumphs over evil. The dignity of humanity exists opposite the brutality of ethnic hatred. Saidah Arrika Ekulona and Russell G. Jones have a spark that anchors this disturbing play. Putting a human face on such atrocities is a first step toward stopping these actions. Nottage sure does that with this compelling powerful work.
Recommended
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast
Date Reviewed: November 17, 2008
Jeff Recommended
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