Chilean playwright Ariel Dorfman’s play ‘Death and the Maiden’ is currently on stage at Paliz Theater House.
The 60-minute play, directed by Sina Rastgou, is about Paulina Salas, a former political prisoner in an unnamed Latin American country who had been raped by her captors, led by a sadistic doctor whose face she never saw.
Years later, after the (also unnamed) repressive regime has fallen, Paulina lives in an isolated country house with her husband, Gerardo. When Gerardo comes back from a visit to the president, he gets a flat tire. A stranger named Dr. Miranda stops to assist him. Dr. Miranda drives Gerardo home and later in the night he returns.
Paulina recognizes Miranda’s voice and mannerism as that of her rapist and takes him captive to extract a confession from him.
Unconvinced of his guilt, Gerardo acts as Roberto Miranda’s lawyer and attempts to save his life. After hearing the full story of her captivity from Paulina, Gerardo formulates a confession with Roberto to appease Paulina’s madness and set her free from her past.
The work is performed by Zahra Behrouzmanesh, Mohammad Habibi, Reza Davoudmandi, Mohammad Mesgari and Mansour Nassiri. The performance is scheduled to remain at the venue, located at No. 69, Sepand St., South Azodi St. on Karimkhan Avenue, through March 19.
