THEATRE: MY NAME IS RACHEL CORRIE

REVIEW BY SUNDAY FRANCIS-REISS

In 2003, 23-year-old American Rachel Corrie was killed by a bulldozer, whilst defending the home of a Palestinian family. She was a university student and peace activist from Washington, USA, who had travelled to Palestine and Israel to exercise her ‘right to be critical of our government’s foreign policies’.

Rachel was a keen and expressive writer and excerpts from her journals were published in the British broadsheet, The Guardian, after her death. Celebrated actor Alan Rickman read them and was so moved that he, together with journalist Katharine Viner, immediately got in touch with Rachel’s family. Rickman and Viner created a one-woman show, sewn together from Rachel’s personal writings and emails to her family, called My Name Is Rachel Corrie.

Currently in it’s Australian premier run at Belvoir Street’s Downstairs Theatre, the play gives an incredibly intimate insight into a woman who director Shannon Murphy describes as ‘both ordinary and extraordinary.’

The play begins in her hometown of Olympia, where it seems that Rachel Corrie is like so many other 23-year-old women ‘ excitable, hungry for knowledge, scattered, frivolous and passionate. She tells the audience, at length, about her regrettable decision to paint her bedroom ceiling red, and the particular tight t-shirt she was wearing when she last encountered an ex-boyfriend. She also talks, with insight, about her separated family, and about community issues, such as her ongoing involvement at a homeless shelter.

When Rachel decides to make her trip, she cannot not quite grasp how irreversible her route will be. She changes dramatically as she becomes truly involved in a foreign world, one where guns and tanks are an accepted part of daily life, and personal freedoms are not. Her disparate passions, philosophies, and facets of personality all seem to find a focus. Her anger and compassion both increase, as Rachel is drawn deeper into the personal and political situations than she could ever have imagined.

Murphy says that she simply ‘didn’t think anyone could wait a second longer to put this on,’ adding that, ‘there is a real urgency for Australia to get plays before they become old news.’ The play has stirred controversy overseas, as Rachel’s personal opinions about the Israel/Palestine conflict and the policies of the American and allied governments are presented without censorship.

Featuring Belinda Bromilow as Rachel, My Name Is Rachel Corrie is indeed an extraordinary production.

My Name is Rachel Corrie
Until June 1
Belvoir St Downstairs Theatre
25 Belvoir St, Surry Hills’
$23-$29 (pay what you can Tuesdays min $10)’
Bookings: 9699 3444 or www.belvoir.com.au
More information: www.rachelcorriefoundation.org