Hush: A Play About the Complexities of Date Rape

Sara and John have noticed a drastic change in their good friend, Kim - one day she's fine, then for weeks she's completely withdrawn. She not only refuses to talk about the problem, she's pushing everyone away from her. Despite this, Sara and John stick by her, and finally, she confides in Sara: Kim's boyfriend Rob has sexually assaulted her. We are witness to Kim's struggle toward recovery. We eventually see her recover from a near-fatal end, and her return to life through the help of her friends and a caring counselor. The play is largely about the victim, but it is also about the victimizer. Rob is not made out to be the villain, but a real person with problems of his own. We come to understand his confusion and frustration with sexuality, and feel his sense of loss when he becomes exiled from his friends. Because of this unique play, we can understand all sides of the problem.