(Seen August 31, 2014)
Rife with symbolism and earnestness, but short on reality and meaning, this two character play (with four actresses) tells the story of a complicated relationship between two female prisoners beginning in 1950. One is Black, one is white, and both are teenagers adjusting to prison life.
Their tentative friendship grows, and playwright Naomi Wallace intermingles time and space to show their initial meeting and their involvement nine years later, after they are out of prison, and roommates. There are shades of Genet's THE MAIDS in their playacting interactions, but no real tension in their non-sexual interplay. There is some light-hearted activity as they practice being "proper" maids, but very little action.
And when they finally initiate a sexual relationship, this strangely leads to a painful suicide pact. Trae Harris/Rachel Nicks portray Jamie, and Emily Skeggs/Samantha Soule is Dee, and all four turn in fine performances in a difficult play.
Director Caitlin McCleod and designer Rachel Hauck have strangely given the actors a huge space to represent the confined cell and the subsequent room they share, which detracts from the intimacy they supposedly share. The time shifts are also jarring as the four actors pass each other as they go through their 'time travel'. And the mundane activities McCleod give her cast are more mystifying than meaningful.
