‘Tis Pity She’s a Whore…
Wednesday, March 11th, 2009‘Tis Pity She’s a Whore’ – by John Ford
…Now playing at Center Stage… www.centerstage.org…
The title of this play is somewhat of a misconception, I feel it unfair rests the burden of lust/love on women; after all it takes two to ‘tango’… After getting over such a revolting idea that one sleeps (has sexual relations), with one’s own sister… I adjusted to the concept of viewing this as an exploration of forbidden love. Certainly I have had desires & fantasies for another man’s wife…For instance, take Whitney Houston, in the movie ‘The Preacher’s Wife”, I could ignore/bypass husbands/suitors such as Bobby Brown, Denzel Washington, Courtney Vance & any other man to have Whitney as my to one true love! She drives me wild! Whitney, call me, I will be more than your Bodyguard! …But back to reality…
This is a raw portrayal of the downfalls of Lust as well as the Subjugation of women. There is a scene where the Husband beats his Wife because he has found out that she is pregnant with another man’s baby. Indeed, he feels his heartfelt love has been betrayed, men do love deeply, but as with Chris Brown beating Riahanna, this was a bit too graphic for me. Women in the time of the 1600’s were frankly considered as mere property, even ‘play toys’ for men…Sometimes I think attitudes of men/society hasn’t changed much…
Director Irene Lewis is known for ‘not holding back’… It seems that Center Stage has once again produced a play that has relevance to today’s events / news headlines…
In the broader context of ‘love gone astray’, this play explores what happens when you love/lust for someone you really shouldn’t … The end is certain doom & in this play the entire family pays the ultimate price for it. Your actions today, affect a host of others that surround you and in today phenomenon of pregnant teens -‘babies having babies’ and the high rate of ‘Single Parent Households’ society pays the price… But so much for my political conservatism… And yes I do work in aftercare programs, and even serve as a mentor to youth, maybe in recognition that my prior lust driven activities had resulted in my being estranged from my son through the divorce process I experienced…
Another success for the Arts and Center Stage… The exploration of a human experience which causes one to rethink their life!
This production is offered now until April 5th which in a way, is a fitting time since we are in the Lenten Season – a time for reflection of our ills for which Jesus Christ came to relieve us of in hopes that we repent from our sins…Is there something you need to rethink? Is there something you need repentance for? Is it time for you to Change your ways? Come to Center Stage & be provoked into a better life… Society needs you…
Many Continued Blessings
Pawnmaster