Reviews tagging 'War'

Ruined by Lynn Nottage

4 reviews

ebunk's review against another edition

dark reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Rape, Trafficking, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, and War

madyreadsig's review

challenging emotional funny reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cursing, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and War

teangerine's review

dark reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Lynn Nottage’s Ruined will tear you apart from the inside, in the best way possible.

The play seeks to answer the question why rape is an integral part of any war and grapples with the brutality of warfare, clan divides, love, politics, and the relationships between women while also providing a harsh criticism of colonialism and the disparity between nations like the United States and “third world” countries like the DRC:

“In the United States, we have the money to create weaponry that removes us from the violence we enact.”

The motives and actions of all characters are complex and morally grey. However, the reader cannot help but empathize with the characters due to the strong sense of hope, kindness, camaraderie, and resilience woven throughout the story. 

“Due to a lack of money, the human body becomes the weapon, the teenage boy the terror, and the woman’s womb ‘the battleground’.”

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, and War

cinderrunner's review

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Powerful and poignant play. Deeply emotional, especially when you really think about the real people the playwright based this story on and the suffering they endured. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, Trafficking, Murder, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail