The subject of domestic violence is very sensitive. Victims often experience conflicted feelings: of guilt — that somehow they contributed to what happened to them; of betrayal — that they loved someone who abused them. There are so many levels of trauma that a domestic violence survivor can experience, and they can often feel so ashamed that they might not even confide to family members or close friends.
In the intimate setting of the Greenwich House Theater on Barrow Street in Manhattan, the powerful work of playwright Marin Ireland shines a light — at times blaring and hard to take — on the pain and emotional damage that those who experience domestic violence live with in her work “Pre-existing Condition.”
We meet a character named A (played by Susannah Flood), a domestic violence survivor, who sees a therapist and is part of a domestic violence therapy group. Flood is riveting as character A. Her emotions come across as genuine and raw; her eyes often fill with tears as she deals with the feelings of insecurity and guilt that continue to plague her. She also deals with the betrayal of her girlfriend, who oddly ends up meeting A’s abuser and falling in love with him. Instead of her realizing that her friend needs support, she turns on her and tries to make her feel guilty for not just letting things go. Once he apologizes, her girlfriend feels she should just drop it.
Character A is in therapy, so her therapist, character B (played by Dael Orlandersmith) and character C (played by Susannah Perkins) try to help her look at what happened to her and realize that she is in no way to blame. Characters B and C share what so many women experience when they are domestic violence victims. Character A tells painful tales of the stories of women in the group who found themselves fearing for their lives. It is interesting to hear that women stay in domestic violence situations and leave those situations for the same thing — the sake of the children.
Orlandersmith’s character makes a very true statement about time: rather than heals, time “passes.” She gives domestic violence victims the right not to feel that they need to “just get over it.” They can be angry. They just have to give themselves the opportunity to heal and love themselves.
Ireland’s play has so many emotional moments that you find yourself completely engaged and empathetic to the plight of victims of domestic violence. The play will touch you in ways you might not have expected. It is something that grabs you by the throat and holds on tight. If you are a domestic violence survivor or have known a domestic violence victim, you will feel seen.
Orlandersmith is phenomenal and intense as character B. She performs with such concentrated empathy. Perkins captivates as character C. Greg Keller plays multiple people as character D. He is funny, versatile, and supportive in each of his roles.
This play will stay with you for some time to come. It has set design by Cate McCrea, costume design by Enver Chakartash, lighting design by Isabella Byrd, and sound design by Palmer Hefferan. Maria Dizzia delivers poignant direction. By the end, you will be enlightened and moved. You need to see this production.
For tickets, visit preexistingconditionplay.com.
