The dialogue about corpses washing up was difficult to get through in rehearsals,

I think the play has a real resonance, given where we are right now.

These are the victims that we don't see, or rarely see,

It's about individual women and their personal tragedies, ... The play traces the arc of the grieving process and what the women's lot in life will be. I was telling the cast last night that our focus has to be telling the stories of those women, and letting the audience make the connection: The play's not political propaganda, it's art.

We're in rehearsals and Katrina's hitting, and we're hearing about the National Guard troops and equipment that is not available for disaster relief because they're over fighting in Iraq.

Part of the challenge of doing 'The Trojan Women' -- and something I struggled with as I was conceptualizing the play -- was how to make it relevant without coming across as anti-solider.