Prison life and its effects on people has been a popular subject on
stage and far more so on television and in movies. Alcatraz, Leavenworth, San
Quentin, Riker’s Island and others have given us images of life in
penitentiaries that are unforgettable even if not entirely accurate.
Charlotte Corbeil-Coleman in Guarded Girls, now playing at the
Tarragon Theatre, presents us with a horrific picture of life in a prison for
women. In the opening scene we meet two inmates, Sid (Vivien Endicott-Douglas)
and Brit (Virgilia Griffith) and the prison Guard (Columpa C Bobb).
The prisoners attempt to make contact but the only way they can reach
each other is through play-acting. They pretend to be each other or the prison
guard. The Guard is arrogant, imperious and almost subhuman. Throughout much of
the play she delivers white buckets on the stage and arranges them around the
playing area. The inmates are both afraid and contemptuous of the Guard. When
Sid changes her sweater the Guard barks at her “Your breasts offend me.”
Virgilia Griffith, Vivien Endicott-Douglas, Columpa Bobb and
Michaela Washburn
in Guarded Girls. Photo by Cylla von Tiedemann
Life in prison has had the effect of dehumanizing the women, especially
Sid, while Brit still tries to maintain human contact as she waits to be
paroled. Sid simply hates people and has violent emotional explosions that add
to her sentence.
In the second segment of the play we meet Kit (Michaela Washburn) taking
a shower in the nude. She babbles as she soaps herself and she is clearly nuts.
The scene lasts longer than necessary because after we realize that she is
loony much of what she says goes by the board. Two nasty-looking Officers
(played by Endicott-Douglas and Griffith) wearing visored helmets come to grab
her out of the shower but they are unsuccessful because she is too slippery.
Really?
The play changes gears in the final segment where we meet three young
Girls played by the same actors as the prisoners. They are the children of Sid,
Brit and Kit (I think) who relate stories about broken families, violence and
brutality. The Girls could be the adult inmates in their youth but Corbeil-Coleman
packs so much information in the 90-minute play, that the plotline becomes a
bit blurry.
The brutal Guard who continues to walk on stage carrying pails is
overpowered and held hostage by Kit. The Guard’s story comes out but I had
difficulty accepting the suggestion that she goes to pieces over her ordeal.
There is nothing to prepare us for her sudden change unless her aversion to Sid’s
breasts is a clue.
Vivien Endicott-Douglas and Michaela Washburn in Guarded
Girls.
Photo by Cylla von Tiedemann
There are numerous stories of murder and various crimes crammed in the
plot. The play, however, could use a dramaturge to streamline the plot and make
it more comprehensible.
The most commendable part of the production are the brilliant
performances by the four actors. The three inmates display superb emotional
ranges as adults. Then they become children and show true talent again in their
ability to represent teenagers in crises. Kudos to director Richard Roee for
guiding them through amazing performances.
The set by Joanna Yu is a bare stage with lighting changes by designer
Andre du Toit. The sole prop used is a large number of pails arranged on stage
by the Guard. The characters sit on the pails and hide contraband in them but I
did not figure out the necessity of so many of them unless it was simply an
excuse for the Guard to walk on and off the stage frequently.
___________
Guarded Girls by Charlotte Corbeil-Coleman, in a production
by Tarragon Theatre in association with Green Light Arts, opened on April 3 and
will run until May 5, 2019 at the Tarragon Theatre, 30 Bridgman Ave. Toronto,
Ontario. www.tarragontheatre.com
James Karas is the Senior Editor – Culture of The Greek Press.
www.greekpress.ca
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