In a divided, dystopian America, science is outlawed, books are burned and freedoms are stripped away. If any of that sounds a little familiar, that’s the point. This unsettling reality is brought to life in Doctor Vonyich and Her Children, a powerful and poetic play by Leanna Keyes. Set in a future that feels eerily close to the encroaching present, the production bravely tackles themes of resistance, identity and the enduring fight for bodily autonomy.Â
The play centers on Doctor Rue Voynich (played by Dawn Lansden), a skilled herbalist, and her apprentice, Fade (Maggie Shackley), as they navigate a world where access to abortion and health care is no longer guaranteed. On a journey through the American Midland, they meet Jess (Breanna Dawson) and her daughter, Hannah (Kelli Saldivar), a desperate young woman seeking an illegal abortion, while inexplicably not fully understanding how the pregnancy even occurred. With law enforcement ever-present and lurking, Doctor Voynich and Fade must rely on ancient, dangerous knowledge to help Hannah, risking their freedom to save hers.Â
I had the opportunity to watch a bit of a rehearsal two weeks before the show opened. Even without sets, stage lights or costumes and while rehearsing in a classroom aglow with fluorescent lighting, I was completely taken in by these characters and their stories. After running a couple of scenes, the cast gathered for a discussion, which was as enlightening as watching the full performance itself.
The play is something the actors and director having had on their radar for years, talking with each other about it or even performing a scene from it for a competition. The enthusiasm and deep commitment to the show’s message was palpable with this small but mighty group. While the subject of abortion features prominently, director Al Oltmann stressed, “This isn’t about moralizing abortion. It’s about science, and how we need it to keep each other safe.
“What’s beautiful about (the play) is none of the characters are villainized. Harrison (the character that could be interpreted as a villain, played by Tran Pham) still has a moral compass. They all do,” Oltmann said. Each character, despite their disparate viewpoints and strongly held convictions, all believe they’re doing the right thing. Â
Breanna Dawson, who plays Hannah’s mother, Jess, brought up another major thread that runs throughout the play: mother and daughter relationships.
“I think it’s really important and should be touched on – especially when it comes to breaking the cycle of trauma and not passing it on,” Dawson said.
As Doctor Voynich and her apprentice travel together, they form a surrogate mother-daughter relationship, offering each other support, guidance and care in a world that has abandoned them. The dynamic between these two characters is both tender and fraught with tension, as they navigate their own trauma and the weight of their decisions. The very real mother/daughter relationship between Hannah and Jess underscores the importance of breaking those cycles of harm, of choosing to heal rather than perpetuate the pain of the past, even if those efforts ultimately fail.Â
The play is presented by the UIS Performing Arts Center in its second collaboration with Coalescence Theatre Project, a Bloomington-based itinerate theater project that focuses on unheard stories and offers a place where the silent and underrepresented have a voice. The production is a powerful reflection of contemporary concerns, particularly in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. With ticket sales reportedly surging since the November election, it’s clear the play is already resonating with audiences.
Doctor Vonyich and Her Children has a content advisory for sexual content and sexual situations.
Performances are Nov. 21-23 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 24, at 2 p.m. in the lower level UIS Studio Theatre. Limited seating is available. Tickets are $20, or $15 for UIS faculty, students or staff with ID.
This article appears in Springfield grapples with increased crime.
