Mel Rising Dawn Cordeiro
Managing Editor
One does not need to have an understanding of the rules of soccer to keep up with these girls. Known simply by their team numbers, “The Wolves,” written by Sarah DeLappe and directed by Mackenzie Richard, follows nine girls navigating their way through life during their Saturday morning practices.
Being sixteen and seventeen years old, these girls have a lot of life questions. They discuss things with each other, trying to navigate the world around them while also coming into their own personalities and identity.
Picture it: It's a Saturday morning and an American girls’ high school soccer team is warming up for practice in their indoor arena. Dialog begins, opening on a heavy note, with the girls discussing genocide and menstral cycles. As conversations get deeper throughout their Saturday practices, topics become heavier. World events and politics take the forefront. In discussing politics, the political standpoint of the girls as members of a team comes to light. This discussion also shows that the girls struggle with their identity, trying to figure out ways they can stand out from the crowd, yet still fit in with each other.
Through talking with each other, and through the process of their soccer practice drills, the girls form quite a tight bond with each other. This bond becomes stronger when, to the dismay of the girls, one of their teammates tragically passes away from a horrific accident. Now, the girls are also facing the issue of mortality. What impact will they leave on the world? What impact will they leave on each other?
“The Wolves” is the perfect coming-of-age story. The issues the girls discuss are still applicable in today's world. Even though the talk of genocide mentions the Khmer Rouge of Cambodia, there are still instances of genocide around the world. Topics of human and refugee rights, as well as of politics, status, identity and loss are always relevant.
Every aspect of this play was presented with the most tender care and the RIC Theatre Department did an incredible job of showcasing that care and emotion. The actresses moved so fluently with one another it was hard to discern this play from reality, as the audience was held captive by the deep conversation and themes.
Congratulations to the RIC Theatre Department for another job well done.
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