Cappies Review: 'A Piece Of My Heart' At Lake Braddock SS

By Elizabeth Vichness of W. T. Woodson High School

War is an ugly thing. From bloody bodies to amputated limbs to copious casualties, the mental and physical trauma of war is excruciatingly brutal, and the Vietnam War was certainly no exception. Lake Braddock's A Piece of My Heart recounts the often-overlooked stories of the brave and empowering women who served the United States during this violent and trying time in history.

Written by Shirley Lauro, A Piece of My Heart is based on the interviews of numerous women who served the United States overseas during the Vietnam War, condensing their experiences and anecdotes into six distinct and dynamic characters. Whether they joined the war for money, patriotism, a job, or simply as an escape, they each struggle to adapt to the rampant death and sense of doom surrounding them. From cheering up troops with songs and dances to caring for countless soldiers, the women work diligently to save lives during their service, as the war changes and hardens them over time. Even after the war ends, they all still struggle to escape the mental trauma caused by the brutality of combat and war.

Each of the six lead women in the production had a distinct and detailed character who conveyed authentic emotion throughout the story. Jannesta Marshall's performance of the antiwar nurse LeeAnn packed an emotional punch through her expressive facial expressions and passionate gestures. Marshall's dynamic physicality and vocal inflection were complemented by the confident and driven characters of Steele (MaKayla Super) and Whitney (Zoey Golabek). Additionally, the poignant emotion and powerful energy from Adeine Merlo as Sissy and Maddie Hovastak as Martha demonstrated the catastrophic and transformative effect of war on individuals over time. Furthermore, the powerful and beautiful voice and attitude of Savannah Raeder, as the character MaryJo, contrasted and rounded out the diverse and distinct cast of women within the production.

Within the infirmary in Vietnam, the soldier's suffered a plethora of gory and grotesque injuries. The crew of the production was able to create a realistic and gruesome mask which gave the impression that half of a soldier's face had been blown off (Riley Sheetz) and construct eerily lifelike amputated legs as well as wounds that gushed blood that splattered across the nurses' uniforms (Aaron Ruggiero). To add to the realism of the show the lighting helped create a multitude of believable and distinct environments, which effectively showed the chaos and PTSD caused by war (Ethan Feil). The sound of gunfire, helicopters, heart monitors, and bombshells also captured the traumatizing aura of war and combat (Christian Ryder).

Whether they were protesting the war, cheering at a concert, or standing in solidarity at the Vietnam Memorial in Washington D.C., the ensemble effectively worked together to demonstrate the hostility both on the war front and at home. Each character on stage interacted with confidence and dedication which heightened the emotion and realism of the show.

Throughout Lake Braddock's A Piece of My Heart, the entire cast handled topics of alcohol abuse, assault, and death with maturity and sensitivity, which allowed the cast to create a powerful and relevant story about the overlooked women and troops in the Vietnam War in both a respectful and deeply emotional way.