Scena Theatre knows that the opposite of war isn’t peace

Posted by clara / Thursday, June 30th, 2011

Thursday, June 30, 2011

All bets are off in war. Nothing said that better than World War II. But how do we justify our actions during peace? Sofi Oksanen’s “Purge” relates Estonia’s 1950s and 1990s, and though one era is consumed with the country’s ethnic purging, the other is not without its own abhorrent practices.

Because we live in America, our daily routines are free of the same worries of the Estonians. Oksanen’s character Aliide says, “Power changes hands and it’s out with the old and in with the new. That’s just how it goes.” For Estonia, when power changes it means that everyone goes with it; the opposition either dies or remains silent. As director Robert McNamara writes, “There is a sense of the true hellishness of human existence.” But “Purge” refers not only to the country’s obstinate regimes, but to the sense of cleansing we hope Oksanen’s characters can feel.

It is a story of redemption, but as with any journey, the characters have to fall down before they can be lifted up. McNamara’s direction guided the show into a story where the audience could see the side of the betrayer, and rather than hate them for their actions, feel pity for their empty hearts. I loved the way he staged the young and old Aliide with their determined faces reflecting different motives. And the powerful opening – which I will not spoil for you – was almost more than I could bear in the small intimate space of the Scena Theatre. But it hooked me.

The fact that only two actors are equity is no indication of the level of talent from the cast. Stas Wronka and Armand Sindoni have a commanding presence on stage and work very well together. Colleen Delany’s make-up gave her a wild-eyed look that did her well. And when she flew off the handle at Kerry Waters I had to grab the edge of my seat in fear. Waters and Irina Koval, the Aliides, were both superb. Waters had the hardened look of a woman that had rarely seen joy, yet the frailty of an old woman who had to stay strong to keep from being walked over. Koval was the absolute star of the show. She is young but she delivers with the emotional understanding of someone who has seen the world in all its rawness. Though the protagonist, she led the life of the antagonist, but she always seemed true and somehow we forgave her human, inhumane, choices.

The traps and tricks of Michael C. Stepowany’s morphing set design established concrete and imaginary locations, a tough dichotomy to entertain on stage. The loud, jarring music between the scenes destroyed the mood established by the actors, whose immense talent should be commended for the extra work they did to get it back.

Two warnings about the show: there’s full-body nudity. They mention it in small print in the program and as a result I missed it and was taken by surprise. So don’t be shocked, and don’t bring your kids. I also must forewarn you not to read the director’s note until intermission. While it greatly aided to my understanding of the show, it does give a little too much of the first act away.

Overall, a fantastic show. This production will make you uncomfortable, but that’s what makes it stick. Since this is an international show, you might not have the chance to see it again. Change your weekend plans and get over there – Oksanen’s award winning play is at the Scena Theatre through July 3. For more information, visit www.scenatheater.org.

–Clara Ritger

Tags: America, Armand Sindoni, Clara Ritger, Colleen Delany, D.C., Don Summers Jr., Estonia, Germany, Irina Koval, Jew, Jewish, Kerry Waters, Michael C. Stepowany, Nazi, Northern Virginia, Northern Virginia Magazine, NoVA, Purge, redemption, Robert McNamara, Scena, Scena Theater, Scena Theatre, Sofia Oksanen, Stas Wronka, The Culture Gurus, The Game Plan, Theater, theater reviews, theatre, theatre reviews, Washington D.C., Washington's International Theatre, World War 2, World War II