“Happiness is a place called Charlottesville.” But what comes of that happiness when Charlottesville is plagued with the violence of hundreds of white supremacists? #CHARLOTTESVILLE at The Keegan Theatre bravely tackles the almost contradictory idyllic-ism of the University of Virginia (UVA) town and ever present undertones of the infamous 2017 brutality on the grounds. Through her one-woman replica of interviews with a band of diverse Charlottesville residents, Priyanka Shetty who is the playwright and performer, uncovers the stirring truth the “Unite the Right” rally brought to the surface.
Directed by the award-winning Yury Urnov, the piece forms itself around “verbatim theatre,” a technique pioneered by Anna Deavere Smith through which the spoken words of real people interviewed by the playwright are performed to drive a message grounded in truth. Shetty’s use of this vehicle shapes her message to the audience through multiple perspectives. It allows the audience to see the story from the perspective of a conservative radio host and a local waitress. They can hear from the Dean of Students and an undergraduate student. When used for the intended core of this piece, this device unquestionably answers why this piece is necessary right now.
Shetty’s writing matches her performance as smart, distinct, and impactful, particularly when she finds her voice and her tone. The piece is at its strongest when Shetty directly addresses the audience at its conclusion, spurring her call to action.
#CHARLOTTESVILLE is a seventy-minute realization taught through the lens of an immigrant and shaped by a court case that came out in favor of democracy this time. As a performer, Shetty’s ability to expose her own experiences’ throughline to her intended message is the truth of this play. In the intimate Keegan Theatre, this piece doesn’t just address a rally, it addresses the state of the nation.
