Eclipsed

Written by Danai Gurira
Awards:

  • Tony Award Nominee for Best Play (2016)

  • Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding New Broadway Play (2016)

Synopsis
Eclipsed is a powerful drama set during the Second Liberian Civil War, focusing on the lives of five women living in captivity in a rebel camp. The play follows their struggles for survival, dignity, and freedom amidst the horrors of war. Led by the character known as “The Wife,” the women navigate complex relationships and shifting loyalties, while “The Girl,” a new captive, faces a choice between becoming a rebel soldier or embracing a path of peace and resistance. Gurira’s compassionate storytelling humanizes their experiences and sheds light on the resilience of women in the face of unimaginable adversity.

Themes and Analysis

  • War and Survival: The play portrays the brutal realities of conflict, exploring how individuals adapt and endure in extreme circumstances.

  • Sisterhood and Solidarity: Despite their differences, the women form a bond that provides strength and hope in the face of oppression.

  • Choice and Agency: The characters wrestle with limited options, reflecting on the moral complexities of survival in a war-torn world.

  • The Role of Women in Conflict: Gurira highlights the overlooked contributions and experiences of women during war, challenging traditional narratives.

Key Moments

  • The Arrival of The Girl: Her introduction disrupts the existing dynamics among the women, forcing each to confront their circumstances and choices.

  • The Encounter with Peacekeepers: A moment of external interaction brings both hope and danger, reflecting the precariousness of their lives.

  • The Transformation of The Girl: Her decision to join the rebels or resist violence serves as the play’s emotional and thematic crux.

  • The Final Scene: A bittersweet conclusion underscores the resilience and humanity of the women, despite the ongoing chaos around them.

Critical Reception
Eclipsed was celebrated for its compelling storytelling and its unflinching depiction of the lives of women during wartime. Critics praised Danai Gurira for crafting a play that is both deeply personal and universally resonant.

The New York Times described it as “a searing portrait of survival and sisterhood,” while The Guardian called it “a powerful and necessary piece of theatre.”

Why It Resonates Today
Eclipsed remains profoundly relevant as a testament to the strength and resilience of women in conflict zones. Its focus on overlooked narratives continues to inspire conversations about gender, war, and the human capacity for survival and compassion.

Fun Facts

  • Eclipsed made history as the first Broadway play with an all-Black female cast and creative team.

  • Danai Gurira, also known for her roles in Black Panther and The Walking Dead, wrote the play after meeting women in Liberia who had lived through the civil war.

  • Lupita Nyong’o starred in the Broadway production, earning widespread acclaim for her performance as The Girl.