THEATRE – Ruined

Posted by Sanaa on Mar 13, 2009 in Art & Culture | Comments Off

“Ruined” by Lynn Nottageat Manhattan Theatre Club at New York City Center – Stage I (131 West 55th Street), Condola Phyleia Rashad is Sophie, Cherise Boothe is Josephine and Quincy Tyler Bernstine is Salima.

Mama Nadi courageously runs a whorehouse in today’s raging, restless, rapacious Democratic Republic of the Congo. And because bullets fly just outside her friendly confines, Mama must insist on a few little regulations. Only then will she dispense cold beer, American whiskey and time with one of the few and prized young women whose bodies have so far survived a decade-long war wherein rape and sexual abuse are weapons of choice.

All johns must remove clips of bullets from their automatic weapons and stash them at the door. And while Mama likes to share when times are good, her girls must understand Mama eats first when the spigot of hot militia cash and pilfered gemstones fails to gush.