The Department of Theater’s winter mainstage production, The Sweet Science of Bruising—which opened Feb. 21—gives audiences a ringside view of the challenges that faced women boxers in 19th-century England. The production, which follows the lives of four women from different backgrounds as they discover independence through boxing, is the American debut of the critically acclaimed 2018 work by British playwright Joy Wilkinson. The play runs through March 1.
Photos were taken by Eli Burakian ’00 during the production’s dress rehearsal on Feb. 20.
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![Two characters in the play, 'The Sweet Science of Bruising' box](/sites/home/files/styles/3_2_lg/public/images/photos/20200220_sweet_science_bruising_eb_0647-v2.jpg?h=0a8b6f8b&itok=6llj4lm3)
Photo by Eli Burakian ’00
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![Two characters in the play, 'The Sweet Science of Bruising' circle each other](/sites/home/files/styles/3_2_lg/public/images/photos/20200220_sweet_science_bruising_eb_0950-v2.jpg?h=c6980913&itok=UjbnlwmR)
Photo by Eli Burakian ’00
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![Actor takes the pulse of another actor in the play 'the Sweet Science of Bruising'](/sites/home/files/styles/3_2_lg/public/images/photos/20200220_sweet_science_bruising_eb_0715-v2.jpg?h=0a8b6f8b&itok=k1IFu13z)
Photo by Eli Burakian ’00
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![Actor gets makeup done before going on stage in 'Sweet Science of Bruising'](/sites/home/files/styles/3_2_lg/public/images/photos/20200220_sweet_science_bruising_eb_1074-v2.jpg?h=0a8b6f8b&itok=0wdr09Kt)
Photo by Eli Burakian ’00
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![View from above of the stage and actors in the play 'The Sweet Science of Bruising'](/sites/home/files/styles/3_2_lg/public/images/photos/20200220_sweet_science_bruising_eb_1123-v2.jpg?h=c6980913&itok=nN5fH6Ix)
Photo by Eli Burakian ’00
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![Actor sits sipping tea in the play 'The Sweet Science of Bruising'](/sites/home/files/styles/3_2_lg/public/images/photos/20200220_sweet_science_bruising_eb_1328-v2_0.jpg?h=c6980913&itok=WIPd15al)
Photo by Eli Burakian ’00
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![Actors mimic moves of a boxers in the play 'The Sweet Science of Bruising'](/sites/home/files/styles/3_2_lg/public/images/photos/20200220_sweet_science_bruising_eb_1408-v2.jpg?h=c6980913&itok=p7Ey-2nl)
Photo by Eli Burakian ’00
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![Actor grits her teeth and raises her boxing gloves in the play 'The Sweet Science of Bruising'](/sites/home/files/styles/3_2_lg/public/images/photos/20200220_sweet_science_bruising_eb_1689-2.jpg?h=0a8b6f8b&itok=t1MaMLFg)
Photo by Eli Burakian ’00
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![Back of an actor shows corset and boxing gloves in the 'Sweet Science of Bruising'](/sites/home/files/styles/3_2_lg/public/images/photos/20200220_sweet_science_bruising_eb_2132-v2.jpg?h=c6980913&itok=XK-D7Z1D)
Photo by Eli Burakian ’00
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![Actor points at a punching bag in the play 'The Sweet Science of Bruising'](/sites/home/files/styles/3_2_lg/public/images/photos/20200220_sweet_science_bruising_eb_1772-v2.jpg?h=c6980913&itok=eSw4Hgfx)
Photo by Eli Burakian ’00
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![Actors tied up in a chair in the play 'The Sweet Science of Bruising'](/sites/home/files/styles/3_2_lg/public/images/photos/20200220_sweet_science_bruising_eb_1960-v3.jpg?h=c6980913&itok=haveLZLJ)
Photo by Eli Burakian ’00
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![Stage shows chairs, barrel, chandeliers hanging from the ceiling](/sites/home/files/styles/3_2_lg/public/news/images/20200220_sweet_science_bruising_eb_0028-v2.jpg?h=0a8b6f8b&itok=RSoqy9RM)
Photo by Eli Burakian ’00