CHRIS CODUTO/Arizona Daily Wildcat "Midwives" - Sibyl, played by Carley Preston plunges a knife into Charlotte, played by Shawna Cormier during a scene from "Midwives." The play is adapted from the best-selling novel by Chris Bohjalian.

The idea of midwives may seem 17th century to most people. However, the idea is not so foreign for guest director Rich Elliot, a UA alumnus, who uses personal experience to put a human face on this ancient term in Arizona Reparatory Theater's latest production, "Midwives."

"Midwives," adapted from the best-selling novel of the same title by Chris Bohjalian, is the story of Vermont midwife Sibyl Danforth (played by theater production senior Carley Preston). Danforth's pivotal choice to save the life of a newborn at the risk of losing the mother's life causes her life long turmoil.

"It's sort of like an 'issues play' in my mind. It has to do with ethical choices you make. It's kind of like the perfect storm. How does one decision that you make in your life ultimately alter everything about your life from that one moment on?" said Elliot.

Danforth's choice on that one night leads to charges of manslaughter, a troubled relationship with her daughter and her struggle with cancer and chemotherapy 14 years later, where the play begins.

"Midwives" focuses on the conflict between mother and daughter. Danforth represents the lack of technical training in childbirth, while her daughter, Connie (Julia Graham, a theater production junior) asks for her mother's blessing in becoming a trained obstetrician.

"Cybil goes through so much guilt and self-doubt. She knows that she did the right thing, but it's almost like she needs someone that she loves like her daughter to tell her she did the right thing," said Shawna Cormier, a theater production junior, who plays Charlotte Bedford.

Elliot said the stage adaptation allowed for a lot of freedom in direction and design.

"The script gave the least amount of stage directions which left them up for interpretation," Elliot said.

The stage is set in very muted blue tones and dark trees that line the backdrop, which provides a very dream-like quality.

This results in a minimalist stage setup including two beds and a doctor's chair. The stage does not change, except for a wall that moves in and out to provide physical separation. However, the minimal stage setup allows the play to change time settings ranging from 1977 to 1994, which is present day for the characters.

Because of the mix of genres in the play, including courtroom drama, Elliot believes it can appeal to several different types of audiences.

"It can appeal to people on a lot of different levels, because it's very non-linear. But at the same time (the courtroom scenes) propel the story forward," Elliot said.

Elliot was instantly drawn to this production because of his personal experience with a midwife, who delivered his daughter.

"In modern times the idea of midwives comes off a little bit freaky, but midwives were an interesting phenomenon. It is a notion that is centuries old, but even the great women of history had midwives," Elliot said.

As a guest director, Elliot offered the actors a fresh change of pace.

"It was so cool to have this opportunity to work with a guest director. You're with the faculty all the time," Cormier said. "In the real world you have to learn your own process and you can do that with a guest director. To a certain degree I'm doing my own thing now, not exactly the way I learned in class."

But it's the intimate dynamic of the cast that brings out the intense and emotional performances, according to Elliot.

"When they have to dig deep and tap into these raw emotions in this age and setting, it's an extraordinary performance. I sit here stunned every night, "Elliot said.

Elliot believes that the audience will walk out feeling great about life.

"The audience will be wildly surprised. It's a roller-coaster kind of evening. They'll walk out feeling so good, feeling glad to be a human," Elliot said.

Midwives will preview Sunday at 1:30 p.m. and Monday at 7:30 p.m. Evening performances are Wednesday through 12, 12 through 19 and 24 through 26 at 7:30 p.m. Matinees will run Feb. 13, 19, 20 and 27 at 1:30 p.m. All performances take place in the Laboratory Theater on the southeast corner of Park Avenue and Speedway Boulevard. Tickets are $25 for general admission, $23 for seniors and UA employees, $18 for students and $16 for preview performances. Tickets can be purchased through the UA Fine Arts Box Office at (520) 621-1162.