Medea Project: Theatre for Incarcerated Women/HIV Circle present MAZE

Medea Project: Theatre for Incarcerated Women/HIV Circle present: MAZE@Brava Theater Center in San Francisco, March 12-16, 2025. It is marvelous. The women tell their stories with courage. You will weep, smile and shout! Queen Rhodessa Jones is a conjure woman. There is a way out of the maze. We are not trapped. Maps live in our memories. We just have to remember who we are. MAZE says, Wake up!

The original stories these actors share, framed by this Greek story of a man-beast or Minotaur, human sacrifice and Goddess Ariadne who saves the day and is then discarded, does not lessen its impact despite patriarchal predictability.

MAZE says follow the motherline. . . . Dressed in red and white, the director, Queen Rhodessa in black with red patent leather slippers--ancestor colors, the storytellers step center stage, backdrops a collage with their names, geographic location or setting and other visual context. Sometimes the scene includes a child or other family members. 

These stories are raw, brutal and heartbreaking. It's a lot to absorb. Without intermission, we breathe shallowly between sets. Musical ensembles work to lighten heaviness. The choreography is amazing and I appreciate the parts written by Lisa which names the TRAUMA as she and the cast remix the brew. It is hot as in firey.

When one actor says she went gunning for the person who took her beauty only to realize he didn't have it to return

. . . well it was moments like this that held us captive. I am sure I was not the only one looking for an exit.

The bad guys don't get to win here. Yet, this is no fairytale. These women survived all this, and agree with Felicia who said if she had to do it all over again, she wouldn't change one thing.

I was like hell yeah! I love the closing song in all Medea performances. After the women call out their matrilenial line, this time starting with Goddess Ariadne...there is the song Medea dances too, Queen Aretha Franklin's "A Rose Is Still a Rose ". I always feel like this is my cue to get up and dance. I have to celebrate being here now, in this body with these women. My life is also a celebration. Oh, all the women received a rose opening night too.

This is Medea's first performance since Covid closures. It's not for children. MAZE is for grown folks. Invite folks who want to do better. Invite folks who need encouragement. Bring a friend for support if these are your people.

https://youtu.be/gtMUQbnT_Lo?si=t4IqDlEVFOtNxRvw