Vicki Cheatwood in the Dallas Morning News
Story about her called "Victim to Survivor:
Mythologies"
Read the story here.
Director uses drama to correct misinformation about rape
05:54 PM CDT on Sunday, April 16, 2006
By LAURA GRIFFIN / Special Contributor to The Dallas Morning News
To some, the Bible story of David and Bathsheba may seem an unlikely candidate for a secular play about the myths of sexual assault. Bathsheba, after all, often is portrayed as the seductress and David as the king who gave in to temptation by having an adulterous affair with her.
But Dallas playwright Vicki Cheatwood gives Bathsheba a chance to tell her side of the story in a monologue featured in an upcoming production called Victim to Survivor: Mythologies.
"The Bathsheba piece is perfect for what we were trying to do, incorporating both mythology and the myths of sexual assault," says Vikas Adam, artistic director for ProgreXssive Arts Productions, which has produced the "Victim to Survivor" plays for the last four years, all benefiting the Dallas County Sexual Assault Coalition. This year's production will be Thursday at the Bath House Cultural Center.
And when you think about it, maybe Mr. Adam is right. As the story goes, King David sees the young Bathsheba bathing on a rooftop and becomes smitten with her. He summons her, taking her first to his bed and then as another wife. The fact that she is married to a solider matters little until Bathsheba becomes pregnant and David, needing to save face, plots to have her husband killed in battle. Later, overcome with guilt, he seeks forgiveness.
In Ms. Cheatwood's piece, Bathsheba, a young girl and a commoner in a loveless marriage, is powerless to say "no" to the king.
For centuries, people have blamed Bathsheba, just as they often blame a rape victim for what she may have worn or said.
"It's another case of woman as Jezebel," says Ms. Cheatwood, whose plays have been shown at the Kitchen Dog Theater, the Bath House, off-Broadway and in other venues.
DallasNews.com/extra
Resources for victims of sexual assault
"I had a spiritual awakening about this story a couple of years ago when I heard it told by a wonderful female minister, who said, 'The King calls her; she's gotta go.' It's misinformation that's been passed down from generation to generation."
So are some of the myths of sexual assault: Some victims still think they're "damaged goods" after a rape. Some people still blame the victim. Some still believe it's not rape on a date. Some men still think "no" really means "yes." And some people think women lie about being raped to get even with men.
The "Victim to Survivor" series is performed annually as part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month to debunk those myths. This year, Mr. Adam, a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, set out to create a "fusion of mythology and sexual assault" with monologues, dialogues, poems and scenes, vignettes that each are no more than five minutes long.
"We want to create a tapestry from several threads," Mr. Adam said when calling for script submissions. "Sexual assault is a very dark subject, but I encourage writers to submit pieces that are ironic or contain humor. ... Don't worry about it being too taboo or too sad or too anything."
One vignette, written by Mr. Adam, depicts the four women of television's Sex in the City talking about how one of them is going to have sex for the first time since she was raped. Another is a scene with dialogue between mermaids and Minotaurs.
The production is part of the coalition's effort to increase public awareness and reporting of sexual assault and abuse. According to the Coalition, more than 1,000 sexual assaults are reported every year in Dallas alone. The Coalition, composed of victims' advocates, police officers, prosecutors, emergency room doctors and social workers, estimates that only one in five victims reports an incident.
"For years, we kind of made reporting it optional, but now we know that people who commit sexual assault are predators, and we really stress reporting it," says Victims Outreach executive director Kristianne Hinkamp, who is part of the coalition. "Even if they don't want to prosecute, we encourage them to report so we can get the DNA on file."
This month's campaign also involves putting up posters in restaurants, bars and at universities, warning people that "no" means "no" and not to leave drinks unattended.
The play, she said, is a poignant way to reach people.
"Honestly, I went that first night five years ago out of obligation. I didn't think it was something I was going to want to see," Ms. Hinkamp says. "But I was so moved by that production. I have looked forward to it every year since."
Laura Griffin is a Dallas freelance writer.
E-mail lauramgriffin@yahoo.com
Victim to Survivor: Mythologies will be performed at 8 p.m. Thursday at the Bath House Cultural Center, 521 E. Lawther Drive.
Free. Donations encouraged. For reservations or information call 214-670-8749. www.bathhousecultural.com.
Director uses drama to correct misinformation about rape
05:54 PM CDT on Sunday, April 16, 2006
By LAURA GRIFFIN / Special Contributor to The Dallas Morning News
To some, the Bible story of David and Bathsheba may seem an unlikely candidate for a secular play about the myths of sexual assault. Bathsheba, after all, often is portrayed as the seductress and David as the king who gave in to temptation by having an adulterous affair with her.
But Dallas playwright Vicki Cheatwood gives Bathsheba a chance to tell her side of the story in a monologue featured in an upcoming production called Victim to Survivor: Mythologies.
"The Bathsheba piece is perfect for what we were trying to do, incorporating both mythology and the myths of sexual assault," says Vikas Adam, artistic director for ProgreXssive Arts Productions, which has produced the "Victim to Survivor" plays for the last four years, all benefiting the Dallas County Sexual Assault Coalition. This year's production will be Thursday at the Bath House Cultural Center.
And when you think about it, maybe Mr. Adam is right. As the story goes, King David sees the young Bathsheba bathing on a rooftop and becomes smitten with her. He summons her, taking her first to his bed and then as another wife. The fact that she is married to a solider matters little until Bathsheba becomes pregnant and David, needing to save face, plots to have her husband killed in battle. Later, overcome with guilt, he seeks forgiveness.
In Ms. Cheatwood's piece, Bathsheba, a young girl and a commoner in a loveless marriage, is powerless to say "no" to the king.
For centuries, people have blamed Bathsheba, just as they often blame a rape victim for what she may have worn or said.
"It's another case of woman as Jezebel," says Ms. Cheatwood, whose plays have been shown at the Kitchen Dog Theater, the Bath House, off-Broadway and in other venues.
DallasNews.com/extra
Resources for victims of sexual assault
"I had a spiritual awakening about this story a couple of years ago when I heard it told by a wonderful female minister, who said, 'The King calls her; she's gotta go.' It's misinformation that's been passed down from generation to generation."
So are some of the myths of sexual assault: Some victims still think they're "damaged goods" after a rape. Some people still blame the victim. Some still believe it's not rape on a date. Some men still think "no" really means "yes." And some people think women lie about being raped to get even with men.
The "Victim to Survivor" series is performed annually as part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month to debunk those myths. This year, Mr. Adam, a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, set out to create a "fusion of mythology and sexual assault" with monologues, dialogues, poems and scenes, vignettes that each are no more than five minutes long.
"We want to create a tapestry from several threads," Mr. Adam said when calling for script submissions. "Sexual assault is a very dark subject, but I encourage writers to submit pieces that are ironic or contain humor. ... Don't worry about it being too taboo or too sad or too anything."
One vignette, written by Mr. Adam, depicts the four women of television's Sex in the City talking about how one of them is going to have sex for the first time since she was raped. Another is a scene with dialogue between mermaids and Minotaurs.
The production is part of the coalition's effort to increase public awareness and reporting of sexual assault and abuse. According to the Coalition, more than 1,000 sexual assaults are reported every year in Dallas alone. The Coalition, composed of victims' advocates, police officers, prosecutors, emergency room doctors and social workers, estimates that only one in five victims reports an incident.
"For years, we kind of made reporting it optional, but now we know that people who commit sexual assault are predators, and we really stress reporting it," says Victims Outreach executive director Kristianne Hinkamp, who is part of the coalition. "Even if they don't want to prosecute, we encourage them to report so we can get the DNA on file."
This month's campaign also involves putting up posters in restaurants, bars and at universities, warning people that "no" means "no" and not to leave drinks unattended.
The play, she said, is a poignant way to reach people.
"Honestly, I went that first night five years ago out of obligation. I didn't think it was something I was going to want to see," Ms. Hinkamp says. "But I was so moved by that production. I have looked forward to it every year since."
Laura Griffin is a Dallas freelance writer.
E-mail lauramgriffin@yahoo.com
Victim to Survivor: Mythologies will be performed at 8 p.m. Thursday at the Bath House Cultural Center, 521 E. Lawther Drive.
Free. Donations encouraged. For reservations or information call 214-670-8749. www.bathhousecultural.com.
Posted: Sunday - April 16, 2006 at 01:51 PM |
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