Just a little piece of my heart

Tales of war, rape, trust and loss are uniquely recounted in the Department of Drama and Dance's production of "A Piece of My Heart," which opens tonight in the Balch Arena Theater.

Directed by Professor Sheriden Thomas, the production highlights the unusual and often overlooked experiences of women involved in the Vietnam War. The play is based on a collection of memoirs published under the same title and centers on the experiences of six women in Vietnam: four nurses, one woman serving in the Red Cross, and one military officer.

The play follows the women through their experiences in Vietnam and how they subsequently deal with the aftermath of the war after returning home. Though the story opens in present-day America, the stage soon shifts to mid-1960s Vietnam.

The themes explored by "A Piece of My Heart" are particularly relevant today, as the show sheds light not only on the experiences of women in Vietnam, but also on the common causes of war and as its effects in American society.

The performance itself is active and moves rapidly, its quick pace physically tiring for the actors and a challenge for the technical staff. There are numerous voiceovers and musical interludes. The ultimate production leaves its audience with a feeling that they have just witnessed something really great.

Sophomore stage manager Emily Wharton said that the intensity of the depicted experiences gave the cast the opportunity "to do some amazing things." She especially noted the performance of Kasey Collins, who plays the part of Martha, stating that "she is phenomenal."

The production itself underwent continual transformation, according to Norris, as "the play was constantly evolving" throughout its rehearsals.

The small cast of ten (which was actually stretched from the original script's seven characters) become very close. Despite minor difficulties in the production, such as the month-long winter break and the hassle of arranging everyone's schedule to fit in 20 practice hours a week --as most of the scenes include almost every cast member -- all the involved participants do their best to take their characters to heart.

"This is a show that's so much bigger than all of us," senior Lisa Birnbaum stated. "'A Piece of My Heart' brings the audience back to Vietnam to the often overlooked veterans: the nurses."

Dealing both with war's experiences and aftermath, the encompassing issues of both the physical and psychological impacts of warfare are very dear to our hearts, and deserve both the time and grace that "A Piece of my Heart" allows."