Tuesday, January 26 – The Elmore Stoutt High School Drama Society received overwhelming support and extraordinary reviews from the public for its presentation of the play “Marah”.
The performances, which were held on January 23 and 24 at the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College Auditorium, brought to the forefront the issues of physical and verbal abuse, and incest.
The play captivated the audience from the beginning as the lead character “Marah” took them through her journey of pain and forgiveness using a series of flashbacks.
The play presented “Marah” in three stages of her life as a little girl, played by Miss Sharel DeFreitas; as a teenager played by Miss Muriel Cato and as the abused girl who ended up in a psychiatric hospital because of her father’s abusive behaviour, played by Miss Naudia Turnbull.
In the question and answer session which followed the play, a member of the audience asked Playwright, Director and Drama Teacher at the Elmore Stoutt High School Mrs. Janice George Harris what inspired her to write “Marah”.
Mrs. George Harris said her contact with persons on a daily basis and seeing their hurt was her inspiration. She stated, “We rub shoulders with people every day; we look in their faces but do we see who they really are? Do we know where they are hurting?”
“From my position as a drama teacher and youth worker, I know that our people are hurting but would you take the time to see who they really are and help them heal their hurt?” she asked.
Mrs. George Harris explained that the name ‘Marah’ means bitterness. “Bitterness does not just come from domestic violence or sexual abuse, it comes from different things in life,” she said, adding, “How are we going to heal the hurt of our society and make a difference?”
These were some of the questions which Mrs. George Harris left with the audience as she told them “we are all writers of this play”.
The students were asked how they prepared for the play. The young actress cast as the teenaged ‘Marah’, Miss Cato, answered that she researched the character and did role playing with Miss Turnbull. “I know some persons who have gone through a similar situation as ‘Marah’ and I took their emotions and feelings and brought it into my character,” she explained.
‘Marah’ is written for teenagers and adults. The play gives a moving account of an abused young girl and her journey to forgiveness. It is through facing her past that the young girl finds strength to overcome her greatest challenge in life. The play speaks out for those who are hurting, while pointing them towards a way of escape.
The ESHS Drama Society was founded in 2001 and has over 60 participants. The society performs for different organisations and has travelled overseas to participate in festivals and showcase their productions.
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