Review: Experiencing War in A PIECE OF MY HEART at The Annie Russell Theatre

Looking at a somewhat bare, sloped stage, the audience is warned of gunshots, explosions, and other triggering scenes: Clearly, this won't be an evening of light-hearted fun. But rather than scenes of gore and violence, A Piece of My Heart invites audiences to experience the emotions and lives of the women of the Vietnam War.

"You say you want a revolution / well, you know / we all want to change the world." The opening lines of Shirley Lauro's 2006 play introduce audiences to one of six women we eventually come to know throughout the production, set in both Vietnam (Act I) and The United States (Act II) in the years of and following the Vietnam War. Over the course of two hours or so, these women lead viewers on a journey through the trials of war, and more importantly, trials in the lives of those who survive it, tackling post-war employment struggles, PTSD, sexual assault survival and more.

In the Annie Russell Theatre's production, Director Marianne Diquattro's decision to have an absence of blood and visible wounds forces viewers to imagine the horrors of war for themselves; a clever bit of work on her part. This simplicity carries over into sets and costumes, making it easy to focus on the characters and their interactions, rather than their setting. The work of costumers Seth Schrager and Haley Benso particularly shines in Act II, where the shapes and colors of clothing choices certainly brought a feminine touch to a gritty play. Lighting issues seemed to plague the first ten minutes of the production, and kudos is owed to the performers who continued their work regardless. Standout Anneliese Moon played anti-war turned war nurse Leeann, whose struggles with politics, race, and belonging, had the audience looking forward to her next line or return to stage. Moon and her co-star, Alliyah Corley (playing military superior Steele), both commit to quality accent work throughout the piece.

As my fellow audience member said upon exiting the theatre: "That was really good... But it wasn't exactly uplifting, was it?" A Piece of My Heart tells an important story that gives voice to those who were undervalued and unrecognized, and seems a fittingly Patriotic piece for viewing this President's Day weekend.

A Piece of My Heart is playing at the Annie Russell Theatre at Rollins College through February 25th, 2017. Tickets are $20 and discounts are available for veterans, seniors, and students.

Photo Credit: Rollins College