Nanaimo's professional theatre with a community feel
Rachel Corrie
Months ago, I had the opportunity to see the play "My Name is Rachel Corrie", the first offing of the 2008/2009 Western Edge season. I had no idea what is was about, but did wonder how Western Edge was going to pull off a play in the Nanaimo Art Gallery, where Rachel Corrie was playing.
Upon walking in I immediately noticed the way the stage was set. It was a minimalistic set (most here know what I mean) but for those who don't, it just means a very sparse set. As an actress myself, I prefer a box set, one where every effort is made to make the set look "real." I love to immerse myself in such a set where realistic walls, windows, doors, and props send me soaring into the character. So, when I saw the stage, I was concerned suspension of reality would be difficult for me. I worried, that instead, I would end up focusing on the beautiful art seen just behind and beside the tiny little "stage." This I must confess, is my own bias and probably stems from my lack of concentration skills, borderlining on attention deficit disorder.
I am happy to report, that my bias did not get in the way. The minute "Rachel Corrie" began to speak, I was transported into her words, her feelings, her world. What a journey it was! I found myself laughing hysterically at one moment and doing the ugly cry the next.
The play follows the very short life of a very real Rachel. It starts with Rachel as a young girl in high school, then takes us right to the moment of her death, in front of a Israeli Forces bulldozer. This girl has hopes and dreams like any girl. She is silly in some ways, strikingly profound in others. But the core of the play takes place when Rachel is a young woman and goes to Palestine with other activists, in support of the Palestinians. Not only does the play allow us to see Rachel as she was, but more importantly Rachel allows us to see the Palestines as she saw them, people who needed someone to know what was happening to them and to let the world know.
The playwright wove Rachel's letters home, emails to friends, and musings from her diary in such a way that an audience can't help but feel as though they had walked along side of Rachel as she is thrown into a world so foreign, frightening, and oddly funny at times.
There are other times when the playwright allows audience members to feel as though they're friendly flies on the wall, buzzing excitedly as Rachel discovers new friends or waving their wings in solidarity when she feels she must join the protesters in support of wronged Palestinians.
I can honestly say that while watching the play, not once did I see the actress, but instead I saw only Rachel Corrie. The actress Portia Boehm not only gave voice to Rachel, but more than that, she brought such an honesty to the character it felt as though Rachel had been brought back to life to speak to us, so we could understand what she witnessed while in the Left Bank. I have no knowledge of the real Rachel, but if her thoughts and letters home are any indication, I am sorry I never met the girl. However, after watching the play, I feel I have met the Rachel that was meant to be introduced to the world, the one whose words held more weight than she would, or could, ever know.
The play also taught me something I am not sure the playwright intended- I learned that when I speak, or when I write something down, I should make it count. Because one day all that will be left behind is our words, our actions, our memory. A sincere thanks to Western Edge for bringing such an important work to Nanaimo and pulling it off so beautifully.
I wrote this blog a while after watching Rachel Corrie and meant to post, but life got busy and things went undone. But I am glad that it waited, given the news of late. The power of "Rachel Corrie"has been brought home more than I ever thought it would so soon after watching the play.
Whether a person is in support of Israel, or the Palestinians doesn't matter, what matters is that human beings need to support and protect other human beings. Sadly as Rachel's words ring out on other stages across North America, and the World, the plight of the people she gave her life to protect could not be more dire. It may be naive on my part, but hopefully one day Rachel's words will be heard by enough people with the power to impliment change, and no one will ever have to stand in front of a bulldozer or face danger again just for their voice to be heard. But I hope one day that if I am ever tested as Rachel was- I will be as willing with my body, and as profound with my words.
Upon walking in I immediately noticed the way the stage was set. It was a minimalistic set (most here know what I mean) but for those who don't, it just means a very sparse set. As an actress myself, I prefer a box set, one where every effort is made to make the set look "real." I love to immerse myself in such a set where realistic walls, windows, doors, and props send me soaring into the character. So, when I saw the stage, I was concerned suspension of reality would be difficult for me. I worried, that instead, I would end up focusing on the beautiful art seen just behind and beside the tiny little "stage." This I must confess, is my own bias and probably stems from my lack of concentration skills, borderlining on attention deficit disorder.
I am happy to report, that my bias did not get in the way. The minute "Rachel Corrie" began to speak, I was transported into her words, her feelings, her world. What a journey it was! I found myself laughing hysterically at one moment and doing the ugly cry the next.
The play follows the very short life of a very real Rachel. It starts with Rachel as a young girl in high school, then takes us right to the moment of her death, in front of a Israeli Forces bulldozer. This girl has hopes and dreams like any girl. She is silly in some ways, strikingly profound in others. But the core of the play takes place when Rachel is a young woman and goes to Palestine with other activists, in support of the Palestinians. Not only does the play allow us to see Rachel as she was, but more importantly Rachel allows us to see the Palestines as she saw them, people who needed someone to know what was happening to them and to let the world know.
The playwright wove Rachel's letters home, emails to friends, and musings from her diary in such a way that an audience can't help but feel as though they had walked along side of Rachel as she is thrown into a world so foreign, frightening, and oddly funny at times.
There are other times when the playwright allows audience members to feel as though they're friendly flies on the wall, buzzing excitedly as Rachel discovers new friends or waving their wings in solidarity when she feels she must join the protesters in support of wronged Palestinians.
I can honestly say that while watching the play, not once did I see the actress, but instead I saw only Rachel Corrie. The actress Portia Boehm not only gave voice to Rachel, but more than that, she brought such an honesty to the character it felt as though Rachel had been brought back to life to speak to us, so we could understand what she witnessed while in the Left Bank. I have no knowledge of the real Rachel, but if her thoughts and letters home are any indication, I am sorry I never met the girl. However, after watching the play, I feel I have met the Rachel that was meant to be introduced to the world, the one whose words held more weight than she would, or could, ever know.
The play also taught me something I am not sure the playwright intended- I learned that when I speak, or when I write something down, I should make it count. Because one day all that will be left behind is our words, our actions, our memory. A sincere thanks to Western Edge for bringing such an important work to Nanaimo and pulling it off so beautifully.
I wrote this blog a while after watching Rachel Corrie and meant to post, but life got busy and things went undone. But I am glad that it waited, given the news of late. The power of "Rachel Corrie"has been brought home more than I ever thought it would so soon after watching the play.
Whether a person is in support of Israel, or the Palestinians doesn't matter, what matters is that human beings need to support and protect other human beings. Sadly as Rachel's words ring out on other stages across North America, and the World, the plight of the people she gave her life to protect could not be more dire. It may be naive on my part, but hopefully one day Rachel's words will be heard by enough people with the power to impliment change, and no one will ever have to stand in front of a bulldozer or face danger again just for their voice to be heard. But I hope one day that if I am ever tested as Rachel was- I will be as willing with my body, and as profound with my words.
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