My initial gut reaction to this play was to cry. I did end up crying at the end
because of the implied meanings. I won’t go into detail but it hits far too close
to home that, although many academic plays I would love to take part in, this
is one I could never bring myself to do.
My intellectual reaction is to sympathize and see how painful this situation is,
yet how much of a reality this is for so many. To look in from a neutral view is
to be seeing that done correctly, this is a painfully beautiful look on the harsh
reality of life.
When I think of the themes of this play, I see not a coming of age, but a
stunted growth. There is also the curse of family and the naivete of youth. Li’l
Bit discovers far too young that she is seen only as an object in her family that
can, and was, heavily sexualized but still didn’t know any better because no
one let her learn or know what the harsh realities of life were. She had to find
out herself in the worst way possible, to be manipulated and betrayed by a
person she trusted.
This play falls into contemporary realism as it shows and beautifully executes
life as we know it, but also relies on figurative objects and language to portray
its hidden gems. This whole production could be captured in a single art piece
that I imagine as such: a girl and a man in a car, his body just too close for
comfort, it’s on an empty road and in the sky, the clouds aren’t just that, it’s
wispy shapes, just structured enough to be recognized as the mother, father,
and other family members being opposed on how Li’l Bit and Peck interact and
how appropriate it seems.
In a world where we now see contemporary realistic art taking over many
“modern” displays and museums, this kind of art piece would receive much
backlash but only because it would be from men who have done these things
or women who believe those men are innocent.
I can only speak for myself when I say this is a beautiful play that is meant to
touch raw hearts, but yet it still speaks volumes to all who may watch it,
regardless of how closely they may feel to Li’l Bit.