You know that feeling when a story hits you in a place that you didn’t realize you had? That is what “Wounded,” a play being shown at the SoHo Playhouse, does. It may be the way that it captures how buried grief can be, the revenge we seek against those who have wronged us or the dark humor that makes hard-hitting topics slightly more bearable. Although the story focuses on the difficulties of being gay in a world that lacks empathy, it goes beyond that, making us reflect on the wounds that we carry and the actions they can drive us to take. Even if you don’t relate to the prominent themes of loss, assault or queerness, this play will leave you reflecting on past moments and how playwright, Jiggs Burgess, captures the feelings we so often hide.
Told with unflinching honesty, “Wounded” doesn’t shy away from the weight of sexual assault or past traumas. Instead, it uses comedy in moments of unexpected darkness to prove that laughter in itself can be an act of rebellion against even the darkest of times. Through this gripping performance and fearless storytelling, “Wounded” turns pain into something communal. We may have different thoughts racing through our heads while watching this play, but sitting together in this hidden gem of a theater, our personal tragedies can transform into resilience. The phrase “it takes a village” is usually in reference to raising a child, but we should not forget that it can also take a village to carry things from our past. This play offers a hand in this, not to erase what we have gone through, but instead to remind us that we don’t have to hold our emotions or past actions alone.
Split into two acts that mirror each other in style, “Wounded” unfolds in two unchanging environments — with just two actors on stage at a time, and only three actors in total. At the center of it all is the main character, Carrol, a force that pulls the audience through each moment with a presence so demanding that additional action is not needed. Carrol is played by actor Craig Taggart, who does an amazing job of portraying the emotional turmoil of his character. In the first act, you are introduced to the character Katie, a mom grappling with the deterioration of her nuclear family and who is raising her disabled daughter alongside her overbearing mother. Katie is excellently played by actress Kristen McCullough. In the second act, we are introduced to Robert, a man struggling with addiction and guilt, incredibly played by actor Shaw Jones. You won’t find dramatic set changes or choreography that you may see in other plays, but you won’t be able to look away nonetheless. Every decision that the actors make is incredibly deliberate in unwinding the truth behind the story.
The director, Del Shores, a former actor himself, believes that it is important to work closely with the actors in order to better portray the story. “I’m very big on the psychology of characters. I can’t really write or direct until I understand that completely,” Shores said. “I collaborate with actors to achieve that. You have to ask yourself as an actor, how did my character get here?”
This process was shown clearly in “Wounded” since each actor has the task of embodying a character facing great internal conflicts. The actors had to delve deep into their characters’ pasts to understand and behave how the characters would given their world experiences. The pauses and expressions made by the actors feel raw and authentic. The depth of the characters is what makes “Wounded” so emotionally gripping. The collaborative approach of Shores ensures that audience members not only watch these characters but feel the weight of what they are struggling with. Because of this, you are left with a lasting impression that lingers long after the play is over.
“Wounded” is playing at the SoHo Playhouse until March 16, and if you have the opportunity to see it in person, you won’t regret it. This play serves as an invitation to look deeper, to question everything and wonder if grief and revenge can ever be as simple as we want them to be.
