Blackbird could be called a confrontation between abuser and abused. Fifteen years ago, a 40-year-old man named Ray, played by William Peterson, carried on a sexual relationship with a 12-year-old girl named Una, played by Mattie Hawkinson. He went to prison, changed his name, and moved away. After all these years she finds him, and appears at his place of work. Eight Forty-Eight’s dueling critics, Jonathan Abarbanel and Kelly Kleiman unravel Blackbird’s complexities.

On stage:
Blackbird
Through August 9
Victory Gardens Theater

Music Button: The Album Leaf, “Wander”, from the CD An Orchestrated Rise to Fall, (The Music Fellowship)