“9 Circles”— a Chilling Descent into Hell

The Santa Clara Center of Performing Arts proudly presents playwright Bill Cain’s “9 Circles,” a psychological thriller inspired by true events about the aftermath of war and the impossibility that one might find peace after traveling through the depths of hell. Defendant Daniel Edward Reeves is an honorably discharged soldier on trial for his life after being accused of multiple killings and rape while stationed in Iraq.

“9 Circles” is provocative, dark, profane and highly relevant to our war-torn times. It covers complex issues like the battered state of postwar veterans, double standards for acceptable conduct on the battlefield and capital punishment. As both cast and audience members can attest, protagonist Reeves’ entanglement in a web of moral ambiguity and military bureaucracy dubs the ambitious “9 Circles” a brilliant dramatic endeavor. Bravo!