Death and the Maiden by Ariel Dorfman
Chapel
off Chapel, until March 16, 2003
Reviewer: Kate
Herbert
Death and the Maiden
is a fine piece of writing by Ariel Dorfman. This production, directed by
Anthony Georgio goes some way to fulfilling the potential of the script.
Dorfman's play deals
with the aftermath of a despotic regime in Latin America. It is a
claustrophobic story set in an isolated beach house where Paulina (Brenda
McKinty) lives with her politician husband, Gerardo (Justin Bechtold)
Paulina wakes one
night to find that her husband's house guest is the man she believes to be her
former torturer. She wreaks her own
vengeance on him by beating him unconscious then gagging and tying him. Her aim is not to
kill him but to put him on trial with her husband's assistance.
Issues of justice
and democracy are challenged in this play. What do we do when we meet the
perpetrators of violence? Do we kill them, punish them, judge or forgive them?
Georgio focuses appropriately
on the relationships between the three characters. The alliances and conflicts
shift constantly in Dorfman's dialogue.
At times the pace of
the production flags, particularly between scenes. However, there is
some merit in this production. McKinty gives a
passionate performance as the damaged victim. She is vulnerable and powerful in
turn.
There are some vocal
weaknesses in the male performers. As Gerardo, Bechtold
is competent but lacks the power of a man who is now a radical politician. Michael Collins
plays the unwitting visitor as a colourless and weak man, which works to some
degree.
The set design is
simple and naturalistic. Lighting is dim and shadowy which is evocative at
times and annoyingly dark at others.
The show is
compelling because of Dorfman's cunning plot.
By Kate Herbert
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