Seth Rozin has done it again!
He has found yet another successful way to bring innovative theatre to InterAct’s
stage by giving voice to eight thought-provoking productions in four weeks. To
kick off its “Voices from the Other America Festival”, InterAct Theatre Company,
located at 2030 Sansom Street, opened its month-long Outside The Frame body of work with a presentation of Valiant. Lanna Jofffrey adapted the work
from the book Valiant Women in War and
Exile by Sally Hayton-Keeva. Lanna
is also one of the three performers, along with Phyllis Johnson and Leeanne Hutchison.
All three actors have a myriad of stage and screen experience which they bring to
this multi-media presentation. In front of a huge screen which gives the illusion
of pages being typed on a typewriter, and in response to a voice which presumes
to be the interviewer, the women stand up in turn, sometimes interrupting each
other, to tell their tale of war. The actual interviews took place in many countries over a span
of five years. The women play multiple
roles as they speak of the angst that war has brought to them and their families.
As they flit in and out of roles, so, too, their accents change. In a flick of
an ear and a blink of an eye, each actor is a native of a different country pouring
out another heart-wrenching tale. This exceptionally well-performed piece will only be here
for a few days so you must hurry if you want to catch it. There is plenty of
time to avail yourself of the seven other pieces in the Festival, however.
There will be the world premiere of Draw the
Circle, written and performed by Deen, as well as several Philadelphia
premieres, including Lay of the Land,
written and performed by Tim Miller. For information on show schedules visit
online at www.InterActTheatre.org.
