The Public Theater is a leader in presenting relevant plays about real and devastating subjects that people around the world have endured and survived. Oftentimes, a Public Theater production will leave you speechless and touched. “Eclipsed” is a captivating, disturbing drama by Danai Gurira (who, along with portraying Michonne in TV’s “The Walking Dead,” is an accomplished playwright).
“Eclipsed” shines a blinding light on the mistreatment of women in wartorn Liberia. Women are held captive, abused and degraded. Gurira lets the audience experience the world of these females through four characters. All subject to the sexual desires of the commanding officer of the rebel camp where they live, they are referred to through most of the play as Wife #1, Wife #2, Wife #3 and Wife #4. Toward the end of the play, the audeince learns the names that their parents gave them, but before that they identify themselves and each other simply as #1, #2, #3 and #4.
What is most disturbing about this play is how these women accept their existence and their roles at the camp because they have no other choice. Wife #1 has the most influence with the commanding officer and gets first crack at any clothing bought into the camp. Wife #2 has escaped from this role and is a soldier. Wife #3 is pregnant and very jealous. She argues with Wife #1 over how much more the commanding officer likes to be with her. When a new girl. Wife #4, comes on the scene, Wife #3 is upset that the commanding officer now seems to favor her. The new girl doesn’t show any emotion, even when, during her first night in the camp, the commanding officer discovers her urinating in the bush and rapes her.
This world is brutal but it is one that was a reality for many women for many years. What’s hopeful about this story is that a group of peacekeeping women from the cities in Liberia came together and worked for years to end the war and finally succeeded in doing so. The play ends with mixed feelings. Though the war ends, the women are displaced and their lives are in chaos. One woman, Wife #3, refuses to leave; she has been abused for so long by the commanding officer that being with him is the only life that she knows.
The cast in this play is magnificent and includes Lupita Nyong’o, Saycon Sengbloh, Pascale Armand and Zainab Jah. These talented women played the wives, and were joined by Akosua Busia, who played one of the peacekeeper women.
This production, with riveting direction by Liesl Tommy, is something to experience. It’s powerful! Because of the mature subject matter, it’s not for children. Go and see it and watch a testament to strength of Liberian women and a story that shows you to never give up.
Visit www.publictheater.org/en/Public-Theater-Season/Eclipsed for more information.