A Literally Breathtaking Tragedy
Summary
For the next 165 minutes, onlookers are inflamed by Wajdi Mouawad's gripping epic mystery, called Incendies in its original French (translated by Linda Gaboriau into English). It uncovers family secrets while contemplating uncivil war, forgiveness and silence. Despite the brutality and killing (it's doubtful the Warehouse has ever seen this kind of body count), Scorched burns with a truth and ambition that combine to create an exhilarating evening of theatre.
There are no casting weak links in this touring Tarragon production. Three actresses play [Nawal] at different ages. The raw emotion of Janick Hebert's young Nawal is very compelling, as is her fiery middle-aged version, portrayed by Sarah Orenstein. They are trumped by Nicola Lipman, whose monologues as the senior Nawal are heart-wrenching.There is a gotcha moment that will suck your breath away and suddenly explain everything about Nawal's behaviour. Mouawad, through Nawal, reasons there is no future in continuing revenge: the only answer is forgiveness. Scorched forces us to look into our hearts to understand why we engage in war and asks us to hate a little bit less.See the full content of this document
Extract
A Literally Breathtaking Tragedy
What can you say when you experience unspeakable inhumanity?
The answer is in the silence that greets spectators at the outset of the shockingly visceral drama Scorched, which opened the 2008-09 MTC Warehouse se...See the full content of this document
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