After bringing Vagina Monologues to the country, New Voice Company is set to bring another controversial one-woman show titled My Name is Rachel Corrie. It will be staged at the Music Museum on September 3 and 4.
The play tells the story of a 23-year old woman named Rachel Corrie who leaves her comfortable life in the United States to actively advocate for peace between Israel and Palestine.
Monique Wilson plays Rachel Corrie, bringing to life the writings and story of Rachel's life. Rachel died last March 16, 2003 when she was crushed by a bulldozer in order to protect the home of a Palestinian family from demolition.
Monique returns to Philippine theater after four years of work in London where she taught Acting to international students at the East 15 Acting School in England.
The play is based on email accounts that Rachel Corrie sent home in Olympia, Washington. These were published in several media outlets, including the Guardian in the United Kingdom.
British actor and director Alan Rickman, (who is best known for playing Severus Snape in the Harry Potter movies), approached the Royal Court Theatre in London about bringing Rachel's story onstage. Corrie's family then sent a total of 184 pages of documents including Rachel's letters, emails and journals to London. Guardian journalist Katharine Viner worked with Rickman and edited the material. The final product is a play that lets Rachel tell her own story.
Monique gives her reasons for sharing Rachel's story to Filipino theatergoers.
"How many young people na mag-te-take ng ganun klaseng action na galing siya sa magandang family at galing pa siya sa America. Parang puwede mo naman iwasan ang mga ganung isyu.
"I guess the best thing about the play talaga, even if you don't look at it politically, is her courage, idealism and hope. Ang galing sana if a lot of our youth were like that. It makes you kind of think tungkol sa buhay when people like her are so courageous and they can do this.
Monique said that she even went to Jerusalem, Palestine, and the West Bank—where the conflict is going on—to see and feel what Rachel Corrie experienced.
"I had to see with my own eyes kung ano yung nakita niya. It was a life-changing experience talaga.
"Meron din kasi akong student sa London from Palestine. Marami siyang naikuwento sa akin over the year na tinuruan ko siya about how their life is at the conflict area. Hindi ako makapaniwala na in this day and age ganoon pa rin. The world is turning a blind eye. How come hindi natin nakikita ito?"
Monique pointed out, "You realize that as a Filipino that you have so much freedom. Nobody is restricting your movement. Nakakalabas ka ng country. Nakakasalita ka. If you think something is wrong with your government, nakakasalita ka. You are also able to live with dignity."
The Asian premiere of My Name is Rachel Corrie is directed by NVC Associate Director Rito Asilo with lighting design by Martin Esteva. Set Design is by Dennis Lagdameo and Technical Direction is done by Jamie Wilson. Rosanna Abueva is the show's Executive Producer.
The play also celebrates the 16th year of New Voice Company and the 30th anniversary of Monique Wilson as an actress.
For more information about Rachel Corrie, visit www.rachelcorriefoundation.org
For tickets to My Name is Rachel Corrie, call New Voice Company at 896-6695 or 896-5497. Interested parties may also send an email to nvc@pldtdsl.net