In a time of war, an American woman named Rosie worries about her son, a guard overseas, while a Middle Eastern woman named Zaira worries about her son, a taxicab driver who has gone missing.
In the play The Blessed Mothers of War, the two mothers are miles apart but their stories are similar because of their worry and fear for their sons.
"I think my play will evoke a great deal of emotion from audiences," said Ty DeMartino, the author of the play, which is one of nine included in this year's Baltimore Playwrights Festival.
He also says his play is not necessarily an anti-war play, but rather a story about the effects of war on families and communities. "The bond between a mother and son is very strong; I wanted to show what happens when war becomes a player in that relationship," he said.
It is a story about the strain that war puts on a mother-son relationship. The play examines how these two mothers are affected by the war and their sons' roles in the war.
Audiences will see what happens when Rosie's son, Brian, returns, and discover where Zaira's son, Raja, is. DeMartino says the play is like a modern-day Greek tragedy with townspeople who interact and comment on the action.
DeMartino said the main point is to show how the relationship between a mother and her child can be affected by war. It shows the pain that war can cause not only on communities, but on family relationships.
"I feel my play is very timely. ... The situation and the characters hit close to home," he said.
He also said the play is "a fictional story in a familiar setting." DeMartino said he knows several mothers of war who are strong in public but worry in private.
The Blessed Mothers of War is DeMartino's first drama. He says most of his plays have been comedies produced in regional theaters. DeMartino, who has been writing plays since he was 12, wrote a political satire that ran off-Broadway. He has also received two Individual Artist Awards in playwriting from the Maryland State Arts Council.
The Blessed Mothers of War is the premiere production of the Theatrical Mining Company at the College of Notre Dame of Maryland and will run tomorrow through July 22. The play will be directed by Barry Feinstein.
"I am very grateful to be part of this year's Baltimore Playwrights Festival," said DeMartino.
For years, the festival has given local playwrights the opportunity to showcase their works. This year, as it celebrates its 26th anniversary, the annual event also will feature plays by George Purefoy Tilson, Kimberley Lynne, Ben Logan, Stefanie Zadravec, Joe Dennison, Terry Kenney, Mark Scharf and Sonja Kinzer.
"It's a special festival because to the best of my knowledge no other city in the U.S. devotes as much time, energy and opportunity each year to letting its emerging playwrights see their words come alive on stage," said Rich Espey, chairman of the festival.
This year's festival includes nine plays: Touch of Spring, today-July 22 at Fell's Point Corner Theatre; Barbie: A Doll Her, July 26-Aug. 12 at Fell's Point Corner Theatre; Save Me, Aug. 16-Sept. 2 at Fell's Point Corner Theatre; Perpendicular, July 26-Aug. 5 at Vagabond Players; Last Night at the Owl Bar, Aug. 3-19 at Chesapeake Arts Center; Almost Vermilion, Aug. 3-19 at Theatrical Mining Company; CYA, Aug. 3-25 at Mobtown Players; and Rudy Doo, Aug. 17-Sept. 2 at the Audrey Herman Spotlighters Theatre.
aria.white@baltsun.com
The Baltimore Playwrights Festival runs through Sept. 2 at several venues. For more information, call 410-276-2153 or go to baltimoreplaywrights festival.org. "The Blessed Mothers of War" runs tomorrow-July 22 at the Theatrical Mining Company at the College of Notre Dame of Maryland, 4701 N. Charles St. Call 410-982-6979 or go to tmc.originalplays.com. Tickets are $12.