Before going to watch a movie, or start a new television show, I always read a synopsis, or see a trailer. Maybe look through some reviews to see if it is even worth it. I thought to take the experience whole-heartedly and try to enjoy the experience without any outside knowledge to what I’m stepping into. Squeezing in to the first row seat where legroom is scarce, comfort was not a top priority at the theater, I said. Hiding behind the bar set on stage, facing everyone’s back was the view I thought I was going to get. But as the play began, I realized my point of view was way better than I had originally thought.
Daphne’s Dive was an emotional rollercoaster. From beginning to end, it keeps you intrigued, while making you laugh and on the brink of tears in every act. The beginning of the play did not foreshadow or allow you to prepare for what was going to happen next. Every Act had its own climax, and each one was just as powerful. The most impactful scene in my opening came towards the middle of the play. The acts were arranged according to the age of Ruby, one of the protagonists. At the age of 20, she was in Boston with her step-mother Daphne and Pablo. Her mother gave her the news about their family friend Jenn, who had committed suicide two days earlier. Daphne kept it away from Ruby because of her big art exhibit she set up for Pablo for school. The scene did not leave a dry eye in the theater. No one saw the brutal news coming, which made it harder to fathom.
Jenn was a free soul, who paraded around public buildings and protested against organized government. Ruby always stood up for her antics and supported her throughout. When she heard about Jenn, she rushed to her defense and would not accept it as being an act of suicide. Yes, she killed herself, but doing so to make a political statement for a good cause. Is Ruby right? Is what Jenn did to herself actually an act of suicide, or an act of aggressive activism? I intend to show that Jenn’s death was indeed an act of suicide and how her actions directly influenced Ruby’s life for the next 10 years.
Jenn is introduced 5 minutes into the play barging through the bar door in an American Flag bikini. Her free soul was made very clear after her first few lines. She describes to Daphne about her dancing act through the streets of Philly, and then running from the cops soon afterwards. You can tell she’s very passionate about what she does. Acosta is another protagonist in the play, whose success is prevalent throughout. Jenn asks him for a place to stay because she cannot afford rent. This gives us a glimpse of the kind of life Jenn lives. Acosta provides her a warehouse he owns for three months, only under the condition that she cleans it up to perfection.
Fast-forward from Act Two to when Ruby is 15 years old. She was found at the end of Act 1 at the age of 11. It’s made clear that Daphne has already adopted Ruby at this time, and has become very close to everyone at the bar. Acosta is running for City Council, and they are all supporting him, except for Jenn. She explains that she protests and prances around public buildings against people who Acosts is trying to become. She continues to tell Acosta that he has changed, and he isn’t the man he used to be. Acosta used to accompany Jenn on protests and marched with her for justice. Now, Acosta is ashamed of her, as he asks her not to come to his press conference because of her attire. Granted, she was wearing the most atrocious, outlandish outfit known to mankind, she is still family. Jenn was happy for Acosta when he won, and celebrated with Daphne at the bar.
The end of Act Two gave us more insight to Jenn’s life. Grown up to a struggling Chinese-American family, she was kicked out at a young age. She was married briefly to a man who was not faithful. She ended up leaving him and becoming a hooker. Her excuse was “I needed money, and I wanted to make him jealous.” As she took shot after shot with Daphne, she opened up about a “prophecy” she had. She referred to herself as a Messiah. She continued to tell a story about a vision she had to follow her heart and become a free-spirit, someone who brings about change and exposes the evil’s of the world. Personally, it all sounded like a hallucination, but I do believe it lead her away from being a prostitute, which is a positive.
As Jenn opened up about her past, so did Daphne. She opened up about never being in love and being a good Christian. The scene ended with Daphne and Jenn kissing passionately. After the play, this scene made me think a lot about the relationship these two shared. The play centered heavily on the relationship between Jenn and Ruby, and the impact she had on her. But looking back, I can only imagine how Daphne felt about losing Jenn the way she did. Her free-spirited self was in full affect again. Her reckless behavior with lovers may correlate to her using aggressive activism as an excuse for suicide.
“Do you know what self-immolation is?” This powerful question sent gasps throughout the audience. An awkward silence lasted about 10 seconds until Ruby shook her head. It was hard to listen to Daphne as she continued speaking about how Jenn ended her life. The fliers she passed out, the notice she left to all her friends, it was all apart of her master plan. Daphne admitted herself she did not take this all seriously because Jenn has done things like this before. She always wanted to make a statement, and when her voice wasn’t being heard, she thought taking her life would.
Immolation is the sacrificial slaughter of a victim.(OED) Self-immolation is saying that you are a victim of a crime, and sacrificing yourself is the only solution. Throughout the play Jenn is never being portrayed as a victim to any crime, neither is she being discriminated. 1980’s Philadelphia was not a segregated community where Asians were being discriminated or any race was given less of an opportunity, and Acosta being a Spanish-American is an example of that. So why does Jenn go through great lengths to protest herself towards injustice? It all relates back to her past and her prophecy of being a Messiah. It is all because of a hallucination that she believes being a free-spirit and killing herself will bring justice and change to those being treated unfairly.
It was a very dramatic scene, and even from my obstructed view, I still felt very connected to the characters and their emotions. The great thing about the play is, no matter where you sit, you feel apart of the story and really understand the character’s emotions and roles.
The act was very moving in my opinion, but Charles Isherwood of the New York Times thought otherwise. He thought Jenn’s death was a little “contrived.” What he really means is that Jenn’s self-immolation uncreative and ingenious. Okay, Charles, like any Tom, Dick or Harry can create a heavy scene enough to make a room full of people cry. But what do I know? He also thought Acosta’s success throughout the play was too persuasive. I thought it was a great story of someone who did well for his community. I loved his character throughout the play.
It was a very dramatic scene, and even from my obstructed view, I still felt very connected to the characters and their emotions. The great thing about the play is, no matter where you sit, you feel apart of the story and really understand the character’s emotions and roles.
The acting throughout the play was phenomenal. But Samira Wiley who played Ruby really did a tremendous job, especially in Act Three. Quiara Alegría Hudes did a tremendous job with the characters and the story. It flows so well, and once again she has produced a play with great emotion. I never thought I would have so much fun at the theater.