Play AJAX IN IRAQ Deals With Military Rape and PTSD

Imagine Sophocles’ play AJAX set in modern-day Iraq. Then imagine Sophocles’ character of the Greek warrior Ajax being driven mad replaced by a female soldier repeatedly raped by her sergeant — both stories are interwoven in Ellen McLaughlin’s powerful play AJAX IN IRAQ now playing in Los Angeles.

As described on the theater company’s website:

Raw, dynamic, heartfelt, and visceral, Ajax in Iraq parallels the lives of ancient and modern heroes. This stunning physical drama grapples with issues that have become all too well known to the American public — war of occupation, PTSD, sexual abuse, and the price of committing combat troops to situations that may have no end.

Ellen Mclaughlin’s electrifying play intertwines the story of a AJ, a female US Army combatant, with the legend of Ajax, a Greek Hero of the Trojan War who’s story is said to be the first documented case of post-traumatic stress disorder.

The result is shocking, captivating, strangely humorous, and relentlessly honest.

The play can be very raw at times and the end of both storylines is not a happy one. Yet AJAX IN IRAQ is an important addition to those projects that look at these topics that can affect us all.

And what to me was also important is that there is a military rate for attending the performances plus the stripped down playbill has six blurbs under “AFTER THE CURTAIN: How you can support and get involved with our Military Veteran Community:”

NEW DIRECTIONS FOR VETERANS — www.newdirectionsinc.org — Focus is on supporting housihg and rehabilitating military rape survivors.

VETERANS IN FILM AND TELEVISION — www.vftla.org — Unites current and former members of the military working in TV and Film.

UNITED STATES VETERANS ARTIST ALLIANCE — www.usvaa.org — Local — Giving Veterans an outlet through the Arts. Contact: Keith Jefferys.

WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT — www.woundedwarriorproject.org — National — Multiple rehabilitative and transitional programs.

VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA — www.voa.org — Local — Focus is on veteran homelessness.

USO —www.uso.org — National & Local — Great organization that puts overseas packages together.

For information on PTSD see my own links www.SolomonsJustice.com and www.InSupportOfOurTroops.com

For information on AJAX IN IRAQ see the theater company’s site at www.NotManApart.com

And remember, PTSD can result from non-combat experiences as well as combat experiences. If you or someone you love has symptoms, get help immediately — the sooner the better.

Phyllis Zimbler Miller (@ZimblerMiller) has an M.B.A. from The Wharton School and is the author of fiction and nonfiction books/ebooks. Phyllis is available by skype for book group discussions and may be reached at pzmiller@gmail.com

Her Kindle fiction ebooks may be read for free with a Kindle Unlimited monthly subscription — see www.amazon.com/author/phylliszimblermiller — and her Kindle nonfiction ebooks may also be read for free with a Kindle Unlimited monthly subscription — see www.amazon.com/author/phylliszmiller