Sarafael
Cast:
Raphael - Lore Angelo Gonzales Sara - Leigh Rondon-Davis David Ando - Kenny Scott Ari - Sharon Shao Crew:
Stage Manager - Hannah Rosenzweig Scenic & Prop Design - Katelynn Fitt Lighting & Sound Design - Kieran Beccia Choreography - Juliet Paramor Fight Choreography - Lucianne Colon |
After her childhood friend accuses her brother of rape, Ari travels inside the mind of the man investigating the incident. This multi-layered story describes how sexual trauma warps when it enters either the public sphere or the subconscious.
Julius Rea’s Sarafael focuses on the distortion of narratives through repeated retelling and the relationship between memory and trauma. Staging this play necessitated a clear visual representation of the protagonists’ psychological entrapment and multiple shifts between characters’ points of view. This production featured a box of light that was used to demonstrate mental imprisonment and articulate which character was in control of the narrative at any given time. I placed the audience in two opposing seating banks, facing each other across the stage as a constant reminder that each half was only getting the story from one possible angle.
This production featured post-performance discussions with organizations including the Oakland DA’s Office and Bay Area Women Against Rape (BAWAR).
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Photos: Lorenzo Fernandez-Kopec