Sophie (Carla Duren) is one of the wounded characters in Lynn Nottage's Pulitzer Prize-winning play Ruined

PHOTO COURTESY OF KEVINBERNE.COM

It's a venomous atmosphere dispelled strategically, here and there, in merciful moments of humor, tentative affection, and bursts of lovely, joyful song delivered by Sophie (backed by an understated but terrific pair of musicians acting as Mama's house band: Adesoji Odukogbe and Alvin Terry). This dynamic — the contrast between the memory and promise of happiness contained in the music, and the toxic physical and mental forces bearing down on the characters — might be Ruined's most tangible illustration of the perversion of life by war. 

RUINED

Through April 10

Berkeley Rep, Roda Theatre

2025 Addison, Berk.

(510) 647-2949

www.berkeleyrep.org