Pulitzer Prize Drama "Ruined" Coming to HFCC

Henry Ford Community College’s theater department will present Lynn Nottage’s Ruined, winner of the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for drama, April 11-21 in the Adray Auditorium.

According to press notes, Ruined is “a haunting, probing work about the resilience of the human spirit during times of war.” Drawing inspiration from playwright Bertolt Brecht’s Mother Courage and Her Children, the plot focuses on Mama Nadi, a shrewd brothel owner living in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The play’s issues highlight the plight of women in southern Africa, who find themselves victims of rape and violence as a result of the country’s ongoing civil war.

Ruined is directed by HFCC faculty member Christopher Bremer.

“It’s a wonderful piece,” Bremer said. “You don’t often have a chance to do a Pulitzer Prize-winning play with a cast that is representational of the roles they play. It also has a tremendous depth that young actors can cut their teeth on.”

India Jackson of Dearborn plays Salima, one of the girls taken in by Mama Nadi.

“This show has definitely been challenging,” she said. “I’ve learned a whole new way of acting.”

Jackson personally found it difficult to deal with the darker subject matter.

“This is my first ‘mature’ show,” she said. “It has more adult content then what I’ve been used to.”

Despite the grimness of the storyline, Jackson feels her fellow castmates have grown.

“We’ve learned a lot about things we were never aware of. This show can help audiences realize what goes on in other parts of the world," she said.

Bremer agrees, stating: “It’s about people who are living in very difficult circumstances."

“I hope people who come to see the show have a wonderful theatrical experience. But I also hope it opens their eyes. We live in a very insulated society," he added. "People need to see there are others who have way more difficulties than we do, and still manage to have compassion even in the darkest corners. Hopefully it will teach that we too can have more compassion for our fellow man.”

Audiences should be advised there is a content warning, owing to the play’s strong language and scenes of violence. Those interested are encouraged to reserve seats in advance, as there are a limited number available per performance.

Showtimes are Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m. Ticket prices range from $12 for students to $15 for the general public. Adray Auditorium is located in the Mackenzie Fine Arts Center on the college campus.

For tickets and information, contact Gerry Dzuiblinski, technical director, at 313-845-9817, or email gadzuiblinski@hfcc.edu.