The Del Rey Players Steal "A Piece of My Heart"

"The universality of a war story is especially poignant at a time when our nation is going through a war itself," said Whitney Montgomery, a freshman theater major who plays Martha in the Del Rey Players' upcoming production of the wartime drama "A Piece of My Heart." Montgomery says that although the play is set during the Vietnam War, the issues it addresses could just as easily be about the Iraq War. Christie Herring, a sophomore humanities major who plays Maryjo, agrees with Montgomery, saying that "A Piece of My Heart" will help audience members understand the emotional effects of war.

"A Piece of My Heart" follows six women as they volunteer for the Vietnam War, chronicling their expectations and their experiences before, during and after the war. Director Katie Cadle, a senior theater major, notes that all of these women's experiences are based on true stories, making the show's themes all the more resonant. Cadle was inspired to direct this Del Rey show after seeing it performed at an acting camp her senior year of high school. She especially remembers the emotional impact it had on her parents, who cried during the play.

She realized at that point that the play and its messages deeply affects many generations. Quinn Whissen, a sophomore theater major, also says that this show is for anybody. "War affects everyone [and] death affects everyone," he said.

"Cry Havoc" was the last time a show about war was performed at LMU. Cadle noted that although Del Rey has dealt with numerous social issues in the past (feminist issues with "The Vagina Monologues," for instance), they haven't dealt with war in any recent plays. Assistant director Megan Long, a sophomore theater major, sees an even more pertinent reason for putting on the play -- she says that it opens people's eyes to the dynamics of war, firsthand.

Jo Ann Mendelson, a junior theater major who plays Leeann, also sees the play as applicable to the LMU audience because the majority of the characters are in their early 20s, which is both our age and the age our parents were when they experienced Vietnam.

Herring agrees, adding that despite the characters' different backgrounds, they all come together through their hardships and the aftermath. This is especially true for the cast of "A Piece of My Heart," a number of whom say they have experienced personal tragedies throughout the weeks leading up to the show. The cast says these hardships have brought them closer together, strengthening the bonds not only among the actors but also among their characters.

All the characters' reasons are different for getting into the war, as are their backgrounds; some come from the Red Cross, others from the army, and so on. But even more important than these differences is the tragically unifying characteristic of war. Mendelson notes that they all need one another when they get back from the war, mainly due to the fact that despite the horrors of war, it is scary coming back from the reality they have known for so long. Cadle and her entire cast are looking forward to the reaction of the LMU audience to this emotionally-charged production.

"A Piece of My Heart," written by Shirley Lauro, is playing in the Del Rey Theater, Feb. 7 through 10 and 14 through 17 at 8 p.m. For tickets, call CTA at (310) 338-7588. Tickets are $1 for Del Rey Players, $5 for students, and $10 for general admission.