Seattle Times: Politically charged “Rachel Corrie” leads bold Rep lineup for 2006-07
By Misha Berson
Published by the Seattle Times
Seattle Repertory Theatre is now the first major U.S. regional theater to announce that it will produce “My Name Is Rachel Corrie.”
The controversial play, a hit in London, will appear at the Rep (March 15-April 22, 2007) as part of the theater’s boldly contemporary 2006-07 season, the second under its new artistic head David Esbjornson.
Other standouts on the compelling, nine-play agenda: the season-opening, 2005 Pulitzer Prize-winning drama about suspected child abuse in a Catholic school, “Doubt” (Sept. 21-Oct. 21). A little-known Edward Albee work, “The Lady from Dubuque” (Jan. 11-Feb. 10, 2007). A new adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s resonant novel, “The Great Gatsby” (Nov. 2-Dec. 10).
Also: “Gem of the Ocean,” the only work in August Wilson’s 10-play African-American cycle not yet staged in Seattle (April 5-May 6, 2007).
Local ties a factor
But the most provocative choice is “My Name Is Rachel Corrie.” Drawn from writings by an American political activist who died in Gaza while protesting Israel’s treatment of Palestinians, the Alan Rickman-Katharine Viner script sparked a censorship debate when New York Theatre Workshop delayed a spring staging of it, due to political concerns.
Esbjornson says he read the play months ago, found “it very moving and well-done,” and the New York flap did not affect his decision to produce it here.
“The fact that Rachel Corrie was from Olympia, and went to college at Evergreen, is a big part of why we want to do this,” he noted. “This is about someone local, who could have been any of us. And it’s about what happens when your passion and activism reaches the level that hers did.”
