What is life? That is the question that one of Carnegie Mellon School of Drama's two latest productions asks in startling realism. Keely and Du, directed by CFA senior Kristina Ball, played from February 7-9 in the Helen Wayne Rauh Studio Theater.

Despite a small cast and a smaller set, the impact of the play is by no means petite. It is the story of Keely, played by CFA junior Faith Bryck, who is impregnated through rape. The play opens with Keely asleep, handcuffed to the bed. At first, she's as confused as the audience; but then she finds out that she has been kidnapped by an extremist Christian group that doesn't believe in abortion. The group holds Keely captive to force her to have the baby. The entirety of the play takes place in the room in which Keely is held, where she is comforted by a former nurse, Du (CFA senior Abigail McFarlane). Over time, the kind heart of Du begins to reveal itself in stark contrast to the fanatic rants of the visiting "doctor" named Walter (CFA junior Dusty Alvarado), clearly the visionary of this kidnapping plot. This intense, emotion-filled play comes to a climactic ending as Keely manages to outsmart and escape the plans of her captors.  

Written by Jane Martin in 1993, Keely and Du has been a highly acclaimed play ever since. The play's brilliance lies in its ability to create a dynamic cast with four characters on a simplistic bedroom set, and its emotional emphasis on a controversial topic. The primary theme in the play is the direct confrontation between the two ends of the spectrum in the abortion debate, which is still a heated issue in today's politics. Ball commented that no opinion is being represented in the play, but rather "hope[s] to articulate with this production a humanistic view of these issues." The play is exceptional in capturing the heartfelt fervor of both sides of the abortion argument and begs for sympathy for each opposing cause.   

Faith Bryck, who plays Keely, delivered an exceptionally realistic performance in Keely and Du. Keely's frantic rages defined the feel of the play.  Even more amazing was Bryck's ability to believably show emotional explosions that were followed suddenly by her becoming closed and seething. From the opening scene, there is a tension in Keely's demeanor that permeates the play. The acting and the plot build on this hopelessness and frustration to create an unforgettable experience in raw emotion.

The other three cast members were similarly talented in revealing their characters' personalities. Each was also scripted well to bring out the amazing character of Keely. McFarlane's Du acts as the calm nurse who comforts and relieves the fiery nerves of the protagonist. Alvarado's Walter, the fanatic leader of the kidnapping, is the very opposite, and reacts with Keely to reveal her greatest rage. The fourth and last character is Cole, Keely's ex-boyfriend and rapist, played by CFA junior Robert Lenzi. The dynamic between hatred and friendship, pain and care, is clearly represented by the four distinct characters.

Jane Martin's Keely and Du has been well-received by audiences in the past, becoming nominated for a Pulitzer Prize and winning the 1994 American Theater Critics Association New Play Award. This February's production by the Carnegie Mellon School of Drama only continues that record of success.

Looking forward to more School of Drama productions?  Learn more about upcoming shows, including The Oresteia, at the school's website.

 talkback to the pulse