INTERVIEW: ‘Chasing the River’ investigates life after trauma
Photo: Christina Elise Perry stars as Kat and David Rey as Sam in Chain Theatre’s Chasing the River. Photo courtesy of Matt Wells / Provided by Kampfire PR with permission.
In playwright Jean Dobie Giebel’s new show, Chasing the River, which runs through Feb. 29 at off-Broadway’s Chain Theatre, a woman must face the traumatic events of her past. Her name is Kat (Christina Elise Perry), and she has been recently released from prison. With a mind to kickstart her life again, Kat heads back to her hometown, the scene of the crime as it were, a place where she must deal with the emotional consequences of the trauma of her youth.
Ultimately, Chasing the River asks a simple question: are second chances a possibility? This world-premiere play, directed by Ella Jane New, seeks to find the answer.
Recently Hollywood Soapbox exchanged emails with Giebel about her new show. As a writer and director, she has collaborated with many top-notch theatrical companies, according to her official biography. Her work has been seen at The Mint Theater, Pulse Ensemble Theater, The Duke on 42nd Street and Riverside Shakespeare Company, among others. She is currently an associate dean at Hofstra University’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Questions and answers have been slightly edited for style.
What inspired the creation of Chasing the River?
That’s actually a very complicated question. There were lots of things stewing in me at the time — and I was writing 10-minute plays as a sort of writing exercise. I wrote a short piece titled Not Yet about a 17-year-old girl sitting on the porch steps the morning after a murder. My family read it and said they felt there was more of a story in it, so I began researching and came across the work of psychiatrist Judith Herman and her research on complex post-traumatic stress disorder suffered by incest survivors. Her work informed the development of the play.
How long has the play been in development?
The first public developmental reading happened under the title Not Yet in 2014. It’s had several readings since and been through revisions based on feedback from those readings.
What do you feel the play says about forgiveness and second chances?
One of the unfortunate results of the kind of trauma Kat has suffered is a deep-seated belief that she is somehow responsible for her abuse. For her to finally get the second chance at life that her aunt Adelaide is trying to give her, she has to forgive herself. If she can manage that, then she can look at what happened to her, and maybe start forgiving the people who failed her.
What has it been like working with director Ella Jane New?
Ella is one of the most patient directors I’ve worked with. She’s a true collaborator, able to listen as well as share her ideas. She’s very thoughtful and has made me feel completely supported in the process.
How difficult is it to have work produced in New York City? Is it very competitive?
I think my experience with this play has been specific, so I cannot generalize. The option was held by another producer for a long time. But I do think creating really good theatre is always challenging. Plus there is a constant tension between art and commerce. Chasing the River is a play about a topic that makes people very uncomfortable. I hope it will give them a glimpse into what it’s truly like for a survivor, and that’s a tough sell.
I also think most of the time the industry is looking to foster young artists who are trying to get started or establish themselves. I am very lucky to have built a career for myself as a teacher, but it means there are less opportunities for me to work as an artist.
Why is it so important for you to be a theater educator as well? Do you like passing on the lessons you’ve learned?
I don’t think of teaching as ‘passing on’ anything. My hope is to inspire my students to become artists themselves, which means offering them tools to create and tell their stories. They, in turn, inspire me to continue to do the same. The theatre creates a place of revelation and compassion and grace. I’m grateful for every day I can walk into a rehearsal room and help make that happen.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
Chasing the River, by Jean Dobie Giebel, plays through Feb. 29 at the Chain Theatre in Midtown Manhattan. Click here for more information and tickets.
