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DIRECTOR STATEMENT: Missy Mazzoli’s Breaking the Waves has an unshielded regard for the force of good and evil that we often shy away from. It highlights the dangerous and unknown aspects of love and faith. We watch Bess Mcneil struggle between her religious ideals and her love for her new husband, only to be betrayed in the end by the community she once found comfort in and the outsiders whom she is drawn to. bess’ story touches on the inconsistency of human belief and the immense strength to maintain it, paralleling love. Bess says “you cannot love words, you cannot be in love with the word, you can only love a human being”. Her story asks the question: what does it mean to love and how far would you go to save someone you love, especially if you believe you have a clear answer? Centered in our production will be the use of various layering of fabrics to represent the Isle of Skye’s mysterious nature -thick fog and crashing waves- all things that shield someone’s view and perception, further enforcing the fact that there is no simple answer as to why Bess makes the decisions she does. Bess is incredibly brave for trying to grapple with the ideals these men have placed on her. her death symbolizes her internal struggle with deep love and faith. We wanted to make it that she becomes one with nature, a constant reminder to
jan of her goodness, immense love, strength in heart, and agency over her decisions.