Captivating Verbatim Account of Historical Events in Ana Deaver Smith’s Fires in The Mirror

Abstract

Fires in the Mirror is a play by Anna Deavere Smith that uses verbatim theatre to explore the 1991 Crown Heights riot in Brooklyn, New York. The play consists of a series of monologues in which she embodies the personas of various people involved in or impacted by the riot. Each monologue is a verbatim transcript of what the interviewee said during an interview with her. By performing these verbatim monologues, Smith authentically portrays the voices and emotions of the people she interviewed. It offers her a multi-faceted and profoundly human perspective on the Crown Heights riot. It highlights the underlying issues of racial and religious divisions while underscoring the importance of empathy and understanding in times of crisis. Fires in The Mirror as verbatim theatre shows how authentic storytelling can deeply connect us to real-life events. It reminds us that theatre can be a powerful tool for understanding others' experiences and raising awareness about important issues.