|
Regional Reviews: Phoenix How to Defend Yourself Also see Gil's reviews of Jitney, The Secret Garden, Blithe Spirit
The play follows a group of college students who enroll in a self-defense course after an assault occurs at a nearby fraternity house. What begins as a class on how to defend yourself soon becomes something much deeper, as the participants confront their own experiences, beliefs, and anxieties surrounding sex, consent, and personal safety. Through a series of exercises, conversations, and emotional breakthroughs, the characters attempt to reclaim a sense of control, even as they struggle to define what sex, safety, and empowerment truly means to each of them. Padilla's script tackles important and difficult themes concerning sex and sexual assault with unflinching honesty. The play doesn't just offer an exploration of how people can defend themselves in an attack, but also explores consent in all its complexities, as well as the challenges young people face when learning how to safely explore their sexuality. The idea of control is examined from multiple perspectives, showing how empowerment for one person may look entirely different for another. The script also delves into how shame and guilt can distort and impact a person's beliefs and also shape how individuals view their own desires and boundaries. However, at times a few of the characters are not as clearly defined as they could be; just when we begin to dive into one character, that scene or moment ends and the focus shifts to another. Also, beyond a reminder of the innocence of youth and the desire to protect it, the ending, while intriguing, does not offer a fully conclusive resolution. But maybe that's the point of the piece. By showing how the emotional aftermath of a sexual assault on a college campus impacts those in the community, it also lets us see that everyone's beliefs are unique, that there is no simple answer or a single path to healing and that, perhaps, the reality is that there is not one effective way to truly protect oneself from an attack or from the lingering guilt, desires, and shame that haunts. The cast does strong work bringing these somewhat complex characters to life. Christine Ward is fantastic as Brandi, the powerful instructor of the class, who we discover struggles with her own trauma surrounding the attack while she does everything she can to protect her inner vulnerability. Mantra Rostami and Meghan Ramos are equally good as freshmen friends Mojdeh and Diana, who see the class as a stepping stone to get into Brandi's sorority but come to realize their actions and desires may not be aligned. Hanna Nur brings a boldness to Brandi's sorority sister Kara that also masks her feelings about sex and the assault, while Angelica Saario offers a complex mix of vulnerability and inner strength as the quiet observer Nikki. Payten Christopher McLeod and Griffin Slivka are very good in their depictions of fraternity brothers Eggo and Andy. McLeod expertly shows Eggo's frustration and confusion with a past sexual encounter while Slivka appropriately tries a little too hard to show that Andy is an ally, especially when he reveals he witnessed something unsettling when the attack happened. Elizabeth Broeder's direction clearly delineates the characters. The staging on Eric Beeck's static set of a small room in a gym allows the audience to feel like participants in the class. Stacey Walston's lighting and the sound design by Jacob Nichols are used thoughtfully to underscore emotional shifts and distinguish between moments of realism and heightened theatricality. The costumes by Jessie Tully are age and character appropriate. Maren Maclean Mascarelli's fight and intimacy choreography ensures those moments feel entirely authentic. How to Defend Yourself is not always an easy play to watch and you will most likely have questions about some of the characters, their actions, and exactly what to take away from the ending, but it is an important and compelling drama. Stray Cat Theatre's production embraces both the discomfort and the humanity at the heart of Padilla's script. The emotional honesty in the piece makes for a powerful theatrical experience. Stray Cat Theatre's How to Defend Yourself runs through February 28, 2026, at Tempe Center for the Arts, 700 W. Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe AZ. For tickets and information, please call 480-227-1766 or visit straycattheatre.org. Director: Elizabeth Broeder Cast: |
