"Hiroshima Maiden," a new play debuting this weekend at Gammage Auditorium, tells the tale of some of the human cost of the atomic bomb attack on Japan during World War II.
In 1955, 25 Japanese women disfigured by the attack on Hiroshima were given plastic surgery by doctors in the United States. Following the surgeries, the women were paraded around the country on tour.
The play is told through the eyes of a young American boy.
The women became minor celebrities, and in their most shocking event, were reunited with the pilot of the plane that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima on the nationally televised show "This is Your Life."
Dan Hurlin, creator of the piece, said the message of the play is about "looking."
"It's like a car crash on the highway," Hurlin said. "You can't stand to look at it, but you can't look away."
Hurlin said the play is also about coming to grips with the decision to drop the atomic bomb and the consequences that came with it.
"Looking at what you've done is the first step toward growth," Hurlin said.
While researching for the piece, Hurlin talked to some of the women and found that despite their television appearance with the infamous pilot, they realized that the intentions were good.
"The women realized that it was America's first encounter with survivors [of the blast], and that it was the first step toward human reconciliation," Hurlin said.
Robert Een, who composed the original musical score, plays the cello and sings throughout the performance, said he was trying to capture the feelings of the women's experiences.
"I tried to evoke the mood and drama of the scenes," Een said. "I tried to create music that served the mood of the play and captured the energy."
The play also features puppetry inspired by the ancient Japanese "Bunraku" puppets.
Hurlin said the puppetry, which features three puppeteers in full view of the audience operating each puppet, is fascinating because of how expressive the puppets can be.
The play debuts Friday at 7 p.m. at Gammage Auditorium and will run again on Saturday at 7 p.m. Tickets range from $15 for students to $30 for general admission.
Reach the reporter at charles.obrien@asu.edu.
