My Name Is Rachel Corrie

Amelia Sargisson in My Name Is Rachel Corrie. Photo by Daniel Di Marco.

In 2003, the world was shocked by reports that a young peace activist named Rachel Corrie was crushed to death by a bulldozer in the Gaza Strip. During the Second Intifada, a period of intense Palestinian-Israeli violence, the 23-year old Rachel Corrie arrived in Gaza to prevent the demolition of the homes of Palestinian people. But besides being a fearless young peace activist, who was this young woman? What music did she listen to, what books did she read, what were her thoughts and dreams? These questions, and more, are answered in the inspiring My Name is Rachel Corrie, now playing at the University of Toronto’s Hart House Theatre.

Born into a middle class family in Olympia, Washington, Rachel Corrie (played by Amelia Sargisson) is an intelligent, spirited woman with what she describes as a “fire in her belly.” As she sits in her bedroom, complete with flowered wallpaper and posters on the walls, it is clear that she does not belong in Olympia with her overachieving brother and sister. So, when it comes time for her senior college assignment, Rachel puts on her torn, faded blue jeans and backpack and heads to Rafah, in the southern part of the Gaza strip.

On a stage covered in sand dunes, Rachel speaks openly with the audience about her life experiences, specifically a trip to Russia in her teens that changed her completely, and made her realize that her life was not enough. She has a close relationship with her mother, whom she writes to often—the emails are read as part of the narrative—but is slightly estranged from her father, which is comically illustrated in a scene where Rachel sarcastically interacts with his photograph. In revealing sequences, she describes the five dead people she would like to have dinner with, as well as her experiences with Colin, a crush from years before. By sharing herself with the audience, Sargisson allows us to get to know Rachel Corrie as a person, perhaps similar to ourselves, who we can laugh with and relate to.

Rachel’s time in the Middle East is truly the hallmark of this one-woman show. Built upon by Sargisson’s passionate dialogue and emotion, the young activist’s time in Palestine and her description of the people she comes to know and love is truly captivating, and her frantic personality is ever endearing, as she paces wildly about the stage making lists and plans for herself. Her thoughts on the United States of 2003, foreign policy, as well as the events happening around her in Palestine are colourful insights into her mind, teaching the audience a great deal in the process.

My Name is Rachel Corrie is an entertaining, educational and devastating production. Sargisson is absolutely outstanding in her performance, and although her fate is already known at the beginning of the play, it is no less heartbreaking at the end of the story, as Rachel has become like a friend.

My Name is Rachel Corrie runs until October 20th at Hart House Theatre. Visit harthouse.ca for more information and to buy tickets.

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