Can I Leave Now?

Never in my life have I wanted to leave a theatre so bad. I have sat through horrendous movies, awful high school musicals, and some pretty bad dance performances. However, I never wanted to leave the theatre as much as when I went to see Sarah Kane's play “Blasted.”

 I felt uncomfortable from the very start of the play. In the first few minutes the main male character pulled out his Penis.  I did not sign up to see a man’s penis when I decided to go to the theatre. The unsettling feeling continued throughout the play as vivid images of sexual acts were played out. The gruesome part of the play occurred mostly in the second half, as images of war were played out and presented.

I understand that Sarah Kane wanted to show the world how horrible people can be. People do sexual acts with one another, consensual and nonconsensual. People want to kill. People have been through horrible experiences during war. However, Sarah Kane did not need to be so upfront about it.During war I am sure male on male rape occurs. There is no doubt in my mind that people have been tortured during war. I also know that cannibalism has occurred. However, I did not need to see these acts on stage.

I did not need to sit in the audience and watch two males having sex; I did not need to see a man eat out other man’s eyeballs; and I did not need to see a man with no eyeballs eat a baby. It was way too much. I go to the theatre to forget about my everyday life and have an enjoyable experience. I do not go to the theatre to see sex and gruesome torture.

Sarah Kane's Blasted was not an enjoyable experience for me. I have never been so appalled in my entire life. I hope that one day I can blast the scenes and images of” Blasted” out of my mind.

Stacy Judson