DIGGING UP DESSA | MARIAH L. RICHARDSON

UPDIGGING

UPDIGGING DESSA

This is a play that I enjoyed really digging into and sifting amongst the layers to find the heart of this gem of a story. In Digging Up Dessa, 12-year-old Dessa and her mother begin a new life with Dessa’s father. A life that is shrouded in grief and heartbreak. They move. To a less than ideal area that is basically a construction site. Dessa’s mother turns to writing so-so jingles to earn a living and Dessa turns to science. And she also turns to her only friend, the ghost of an 19th century woman of science, Mary Anning. Whose only remembrance is a tongue twister, “She sells seashells by the sea shore.”

This fresh play features the historical findings of a rich past of paleontology which is a boneyard of old, white men. Men who have been supported and, in many cases, propped up by women’s scientific discoveries. After an emotional outburst in the science museum, she is shackled to a boy classmate for the science fair (who is also the son of the museum director). A young man who is being pushed to live the life his father wants and give up his dreams of becoming a sound engineer. Dessa seizes the opportunity to compete in the fair and sets out to win it and right the wrongs of all the women who have been shut out of history. A tall order for a one lonely girl.

The plan is for Dessa and Nilo, at the urging and supervision of Mary Anning, to use the construction site as a place to dig for fossils. And to their disbelief, they find one. And just when the big moment that Dessa has planned, Nilo takes the selfish approach and like so many white men of science before him takes credit. Dessa is devasted. All her hard work and on top of that she must deal with what really happened when her dad died. With no science fair to fill her thoughts she only has her grief.

I believe that this is the real story of the play, but it feels as if we as an audience must dig for it. It is not as obvious as the arc of the issue of girls and STEM. But this find, the story of what and who her father was, is the real gem. As her and her mother excavate the truth, we are moved by the emotion and the strength of the mother and daughter. We root for their healing and survival in such a trying time.

Digging up Dessa is the first show of the 49th season of Metro Theater Company. The play written by Laura Schellhardt and directed by Julia Flood. The ensemble is perfectly cast with Alicia Reve’ Like as the mother, John Katz as Nilo, Lizi Watt as Mary Anning, and Rae Davis as Dessa.

Playing at the Grandel Theater (you can attend if you follow the COVID protocols for in person performances) and streaming at metroplay.org, the show runs from October until November 7, Fridays at 7pm, Saturdays at 4pm, Sundays at 2pm, and 10 am school day performances.

This is a show that you’ll be alright with hearing about kids playing in the dirt. Don’t miss it!

~Mariah L. Richardson