While 9 Parts of Desire is not a political play per se, each woman's story has a political component. Layal is free to express herself in her art, but must buy that freedom by prostituting herself to the government in a variety of ways. The Doctor studied abroad and chose to return to her country to practice medicine, but treats countless victims of the war amid unsanitary conditions and a dearth of resources. Huda, the Iraqi exile living in London, is the most political character and also serves as a history tutor, detailing the rise and fall of Saddam Hussein and American involvement in Iraqi affairs.
J. Michael Griggs' set is evocative, its focal point being a rectangular pool of water that reflects its ripples on the backdrop of sheer curtains, up lit by warm amber bulbs. Mulaya, a professional mourner and the first woman we meet, feeds this river with shoes and sandals of the dead. Near the end of the play, Layal, the artist, steps into the pool and assumes the dead man's float position in an eerie depiction of death. The water theme runs through the story and connects the characters to the river and to each other. In the desert, water is life and the river of life is a powerful force within these women.
9 Parts of Desire is a difficult play to sit through because of the horrors of war and tragic circumstances which are described. There is also an element of guilt to be a citizen of the country that has brought about some of their suffering. At the same time, Heather Raffo's concept and writing combine to bring us on a journey into a world we would not otherwise experience. At the Lyric, O' Reilly and her able collaborators are offering a tour of that world, expertly led by the remarkable Lanna Joffrey. Buy your tickets and fasten your seatbelt. It's worth the fare.
