We’re back with another interview with a member of the Dead Man’s Dinner team – this time, it’s Zohra Benzerga, who plays Petra Oates. Get your tickets to see her and the rest of the cast starting next Thursday!

How would you best describe your feelings about the about the play?

Dead Man’s Dinner so easily walks the line between tenderness and straight-up cannibalism. It’s dizzying! But also, total and complete political upheaval is not absolutely unforeseeable. So I could also describe my feelings as… fear!

What is your favorite part of the play and why?

The people in this world wrestle between the very true desires of the heart and the even truer demands of the body. Olympia, Jackie and Petra try to navigate around this super wacky (but not so wacky) reality. Their struggles to maintain their relationships are pretty fascinating.

Which character in Dead Man’s Dinner do you most relate to and why?

David Christmas, he just wants to be cozy. But also, Petra’s attempts at loving the people around her are very relatable. The poor girl can’t seem to do it right—also relatable.

Who is your least favorite character and why?

Petra is also a manipulative little monster but her intentions are always good.

What made you want to work on this play?

Lovely humans and a strong story.

What’s your favorite thing about the character you play? 

Petra is a little princess. Despite being a total badass rat-hunting-lady-warrior, she throws tantrums when she doesn’t get what she wants. It’s a lot of fun.

What part of the play did you struggle with the most?

Petra’s attitude towards love is puzzling. She is at once hopeful and absolutely hopeless. She lives with this challenging duality that, at times dips one way just to swing back to the other.

Any possible themes that stood out to you?

I think that the question of what fills us up is super present. Is it love? Is it warmth? Is it food?