“Widows,” adapted from Dorfman’s 1983 novel of the same name, depicts the quiet rebellion of a group of peasant women whose husbands, sons and fathers have disappeared into the deadly maw of the military junta fighting on behalf of a rich oligarchy. The novel was set in Greece in 1942, but Mr. Dorfman has recast [...]

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The Sundaytimes Sri Lanka

Feroze takes on Dorfman’s “Widows”

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“Widows,” adapted from Dorfman’s 1983 novel of the same name, depicts the quiet rebellion of a group of peasant women whose husbands, sons and fathers have disappeared into the deadly maw of the military junta fighting on behalf of a rich oligarchy. The novel was set in Greece in 1942, but Mr. Dorfman has recast the stage version as a more universal tale of the dynamics of diseased societies.

The names of the characters suggest Latin America, but the country they live in goes unmentioned.
A brutal conflict has come to an end, with the ruling class victorious and the military in firm control. In a village women await news of the dozens of men taken captive by the army, supposedly for being involved in the rebellion or for holding dissident views. But the only sign of the lost is a corpse that floats down the river one day.

Decomposing and disfigured by torture, the faceless man is claimed by Sofia Fuentes, a grandmother who has lost a father, husband and two sons to the violence. A soldier in charge of keeping the peace in the area fears that if she is allowed to claim the body, uncomfortable questions will be raised about the man’s death. He burns it in secret.

When the river gives up another body, it is claimed by all the widows of the town as a protest against the army’s refusal to answer questions about the whereabouts of their men. Their nerves worn to shreds as they wait for news, many of the women have become fixated on their loss; a body, even if they cannot be sure whom it belongs to, could help put at least a symbolic end to the agonising uncertainty.

The production of “Widows” features Swasha Malalasekara, Gehan Blok, Wasaam Ismail, Sashane Perera, Neluka Silva, Bimsara Premaratne, Shiwanthi Kahandaliyanage, Dinoo Wikramage, Viranthi Cooray, and a host of other talented actors.

“Widows” directed by Feroze Kamardeen will be staged at the Lionel Wendt Theatre from November 23-25. This is an amateur production by StageLight&Magic Inc., under licence from Samuel French of U.K. “Widows” is strictly for adults only. Box plan and tickets will be available at the Wendt from November 9 onwards.




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