Lynn Nottage's "Ruined" opens at N.C. Central's University Theatre on Friday, Feb. 11. The action in "Ruined," which won a Pulitzer Prize in 2009, takes place in the Democratic Republic of Congo during what is sometimes called Africa's World War, a war that involved eight countries, lasted from 1996-2003, and took over 5 million lives.
According to a UNICEF report over 200,000 women were raped during the conflict.
Nottage's searing play examines the personal toll experienced by a handful of these women.
Nottage, who says she was inspired by Bertolt Brecht's "Mother Courage and Her Children," actually went to Africa in 2004 to hear firsthand the stories of women rape victims.
She is known for plays that explore the lives of African-American women, and she has won numerous awards for "Intimate Apparel," "Fabulation, or the Re-Education of Undine and Crumbs for the Table of Joy."
NCCU's production will be directed by Stephanie "Asabi" Howard.
Asabi most recently directed "Sarafina," "Slappin' God in the Face," and "Fabulation" at the Unversity Theatre.
"I like directing plays that are culturally and politically driven," said Asabi, explaining that she wants to bring plays to NCCU that expose and educate people about historical issues.
Asabi said that some might have a hard time relating to the situation faced by the rape victims in "Ruined," but that she wants the audience "to feel empathy and sympathy for these young women."
According to Asabi, government soldiers themselves came up with the term "ruined."
The title refers to women who have been raped and then dropped off at their home villages, where they are shunned and rejected by their tribe and families.
The play explores a group of "ruined" rape victims working as prostitutes in a Congolese bar and brothel. The brothel is run by one Mama Nadi, played by theatre sophomore Kammeran Giggers.
Nadi rules with an iron fist. She takes no nonsense from the male patrons and provides a refuge for the exiled girls.
Much of the play revolves around the relationships among Mama Nadi, Sophie, played by theatre freshman Kaylin Smith, Salima, played by theatre senior Tara-Whitney Rison, and Josephine, played by theatre senior Talisha Askew.
Here's how a review in World Socialist describes the arrival of the Sophie and Salima at Mama Nadi's brothel: "Sophie and Salima, another young woman from her village, stand wide-eyed with a mixture of emotions — fear, anticipation and hope — as they grasp the possibility that they may be ‘saved' from further suffering and even death by the chance to work in a brothel, an opportunity they are desperate to accept."
According to a New York Times review of "Ruined," which ran at the Manhattan Theater Club, Nottage "has endowed the frail-looking Sophie, as well as the formidable Mama, with a strength that transforms this tale of ruin into a clear-eyed celebration of endurance."
"Ruined" will run Feb. 11-13 and 18-20 at NCCU's University Theatre. Sunday shows at 2 p.m and all other shows are at 8 p.m.
Tickets for students and senior citizens are $5. General admission is $10. Tickets can be purchased at NCCU's ticket office, by phone (919.530.5170), or at the door.
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