9 Parts of Desire

Description
Though it presents the current chaos in Iraq through Iraqi eyes, 9 Parts isn't an antiwar polemic—at least not exclusively. Heather Raffo portrays nine diverse Iraqi women; their views—on Saddam, on the U.S. and on the value of the war—are unexpectedly and disarmingly diverse. Raffo gives a very impressive performance, transforming herself physically and vocally with precision. The play itself is well-structured, inasmuch as the intercutting of the women's stories reinforces both their commonalities and their contradictions, but her effort to whip the distinct stories into a communal climax feels artificial. Still, separately and together, they're well-told stories that deserve the telling.—KV