I was invited to a one act play by a friend via Facebook and I said to myself – what the heck, why not try something different. So I secured myself a hot date and headed to the National Cultural Centre to see this play – which happens to be one competing in the finals of the 2nd Annual National Drama Festival.
The play entitled TILL DEATH speaks mainly and POWERFULLY to domestic violence. It was riveting and real. A true interpretation of the blood, sweat and tears of a domestic violence relationship. Patrons were introduced to a clearly arrogant husband, Trevor, and his overly fearful yet sometimes resilient wife, Tessa. The play chronicled the cycle of domestic violence, from the impulsive attitudes to the numerous problems with everything to the shouting and the name calling to the physical aspect (kicking, slapping, etc.) to the denial on the woman’s part to her thinking it is her fault that she was ill-treated to her saying that her husband does indeed love her to her refusing to get help and then the cycle continues until one or both parties end up cold and stiff in a freezer somewhere. Vivid? That is the reality of it. Domestic violence relationships literally do go TILL DEATH.
In the play the regular spousal swabbles which included physical violence alarmed everyone except the wife (the sufferer) and the husband (the abuser). Friends and family (Dianne, the best friend and Tessa’s mother) tried to help but Tessa was convinced that she could make it work without their intervention until Trevor decided to take her life. He poisoned her; Tessa knowingly ingested the substance that was going to claim her life. But not before she returned the favour, and Trevor unknowingly gulped down the substance he forced on his wife. TILL DEATH did they part.
The play sent a powerful message but what I found extremely disturbing was the fact that most persons found the parts where the husband was kicking and slapping his wife to be rather hilarious. Domestic violence is no joke. Many times woman and quite frequently their children are splashed across the front of our newspapers – a picture in happier times or a picture with them sliced and diced – because someone or themselves thought it funny, or paid little or no attention to the situation (credit holly). No doubt, men are also the victims of abuse, regardless of who it is we need to understand the seriousness of this issue and we need to work together to eradicate it from our communities.
No, I’m not writing to preach about domestic violence, I’m writing about the play (and many others like it) which in my opinion can be used as an effective domestic violence awareness tool. It was well written by a very promising playwright, Tashandra Inniss, and the actors did an excellent job in bringing out the message.
The four young and talented actors who brought the play to life were masterful in their deliveries. Costumes, emotions, approach and I guess their love for the art enabled them to perform beautifully. So much so that at the end of the play, the “wife” of the play was crying, I guess she was really in her role and that’s what makes theatre fun and that’s what the audience love. Own your role!
The National Drama Festival is still continuing at the National Cultural Centre so if you’re a lover of the arts or just looking for something diverse to do then I suggest you go to see one of the plays. These plays focus on a plethora of prevalent issues found in our societies. And tickets are absolutely FREE.
Who knew an evening at the NCC accompanied by a dashing young man would be so wonderful and enthralling??!!!
By Slimchick
