The Phoenix Center for the Arts showcased “Light Rail”, a play about harassment and the objectification of women on public transportation written and directed by local artist Anna Flores.
The play follows Dalia, a 20-year-old Arizona State University junior, as she is confronted with the experience of riding Phoenix’s infamous metro light rail train on her way back from class. As Dalia boards and rides the train, she deals with threats and sexual harassment from the men she encounters along the way.
Upon entering the event, all men in attendance were handed thought cards instead of programs, intended to get them thinking about questions that women must ask themselves every day, such as, “Have you ever counted the times you were catcalled on the street?” and “Have you ever thought about how you would defend yourself from rape?”
Audience members, especially the men, admitted to feeling uncomfortable during parts of the play. In a group discussion following the stage reading, audience member Elijah Begay said, “as a man, it was very interesting, because we don’t really get to see that side directed towards us.”
The cast, made up almost entirely of males, acted out scenes with very heavy subject matter. Actor Oscar Griffin said during the Q&A session that he “had to put [his] obliviousness in check and realize that these things actually do happen to women.”
“Light Rail” is Flores’ first script, and was partially co-written by Huberto Paz, who is also an actor in the play. Paz’ character, Tyler, begins as the perceived “nice guy”, but by the end of the play, it becomes apparent that even those with seemingly good intentions sometimes have a hidden agenda.
Flores said that her main goal in writing the play was to “get people to understand the situation, so that maybe something will change.”
“Light Rail” puts the audience directly into Dalia’s shoes. Dalia’s face is not shown during the play, however, her voice is heard from offstage. The actors playing men on the light rail talk directly to the audience and intentionally stand too close for comfort to many of those seated in the first few rows to set the scene.
Flores said the inspiration for “Light Rail” came directly from the reality faced by women every day, as well as her own experiences with harassment.
“I was really just trying to bring an awareness to [the issue] and trying to get people to understand that women are not just bodies and are not just there to be desired,” Flores said.
Anna Flores and the co-writers of “Light Rail” belong to a nonprofit organization called New Carpa Collective, a performing arts association with the goal of providing a platform for marginalized groups to create art and share it with a community. Its artists produce plays, films, and other forms of performance art.
Contact the reporter at erfontan@asu.edu.
