My name is Rachel Corrie
One young woman and several palettes of a blotchy red colour make up the stage for a recent production which pays homage to the short life of an American activist. Her name was Rachel Corrie and her motivation was human rights, specifically for the people of Palestine. No doubt this description has already sent some readers running, don’t be put off however; the performance is a compelling one and the text, oddly hypnotising—consisting of emails and diary entries written by the 23 year old Rachel before her untimely death. The afore mentioned Palettes cleverly capture two distinct moments and milestones in Rachel’s life: the walls of her bedroom as an adventure seeking student, and the walls found in Gaza during her time volunteering with ISM. Two contrasting settings unmistakably linked by the associated feelings of claustrophobia and entrapment. From the personal to the impersonal, the private to the political, the play expertly blends two distinct ways of life yet ultimately proves that humanity is what lies at their core. Between these two worlds is Rachel Corrie, vehemently and admirably committed to social justice issues. One may ask, “What was she like?” “Did she get out much?”
Corrie comes to life through the performance in order to answer these questions herself, “I still really want to dance around to Pat Benatar and have boyfriends and make comics for my co-workers. But I also want this to stop.”
What shines through is Rachel’s bravery and commitment in a world that tends to forget its duties and boundedness in the face of commercialisation and mediatisation. Throughout the performance we are not once allowed to forget our inextricable ties to the Palestinian plight, living as we are “in the midst of a genocide which I am (we are) also indirectly supporting, and for which my government is largely responsible”.
My one moan would be that it sadly lacked in a theatrical climax and the subsequent mounting tension that would accompany it. Shannon Ferber as Corrie deserves high praise however as a solo performer managing to command the audiences’ attention throughout the 80 minute piece. Overall an impressive and moving performance.
