This Wednesday evening, I was delighted to see FTT’s production of “The Wolves”! The production had great lighting from the get-go, which truly underscored the mood throughout the play. The red, intense lighting at the start was an artistically insightful method of foreshadowing the issues that would be alluded to and the tragedy at the show’s end. The sets, props and costumes were simple yet effective — the audience was able to easily distinguish the setting, which allowed viewers to hone in on the subtle, smaller references made throughout the show. I also loved the soccer ball props — they helped evoke a soccer field on stage. The show started with a humorous opening, with the girls on the team making light-hearted jokes with each other, though the tone shifted by quickly alluding to social and mental health issues such as sexual assault, eating disorders and anxiety. Over the course of the show, these heavier topics brought tension between the girls, and this tension was later resolved only after the tragedy of losing a teammate.
The play did a phenomenal job in showing the audience a key theme: you never know what someone is going through. I think this speaks to Notre Dame’s Catholic values about extending kindness to others and loving your neighbor as yourself. The performance portrayed the harsh realities of teenagers who have to hide parts of themselves to fit into society. The team captain originally hides that she’s lesbian out of fear that her teammates will judge her, and one of the girls aggressively eats orange slices when no one is looking because she hasn’t eaten all day. Each girl on the team is actively fighting a battle that they don’t reveal to the teammates they’ve known for years — only the audience knows the intensity of their lives and their active fight. I enjoyed feeling like I had an “inside scoop” on each character, and the girls’ privacy about their battles resonated with the audience; we almost never reveal our full truths to ourselves, so realistically we cannot have that pure, complete vulnerability with others. Yet, when they all shared one vulnerable, tragic moment together, they were able to truly be vulnerable with each other, and thus the team was unified. “The Wolves” showed the audience this unity in a poignant way. At the end, the team continuously chants “We are the Wolves!” This chant gets increasingly louder, the lighting intensifies and, suddenly, the lights go out. This was a necessary, bold exit to a bold, thought-provoking play.
The team’s overall vulnerability was shared in somber, passionate moments. For instance, the mother’s regrets over arguing with her daughter before her death, or her best friend regretting the cruel words exchanged the last time they saw each other. These moments of regret highlight how people do not seem to appreciate what they have until it’s gone, which gives the audience a chance to reflect on their own lives and express gratitude. The show demonstrates how you truly never know what will happen and when. That’s the reason I always tell my mother “I love you” before ending our calls, and why I occasionally journal — to remind myself of all the positives my life nevertheless has to offer.
