|
|
 |
|
|
|
Powerful
Boots Begins War Dialogue in RI
|
Kerri
Kanelos
April
23rd 2006 |
|
Boots
on the Ground, a term used to identify
soldiers deployed overseas, is Trinity Repertory
Company's successful attempt to bring the
war in Iraq home to Rhode Islanders that may
not necessarily be directly affected by these
events. The 90-minute play, created and written
by Laura Kepley and D. Salem Smith, was created
using almost 200 hours of recordings from
70 interviews.
Although the
creators of Boots on the Ground chose
to highlight almost 25 interviewees, all of
the voices come through only five incredibly
talented cast members-Anne Scurria, Stephen
Thorne, Rachael Warren, Joe Wilson, Jr., and
Richard Donelly. Whether portraying nerve
wracked military spouses, war veterans, or
a psychologist from the local VA hospital,
the cast pulled off each and every personality
with just the right amount of appropriate
humor or emotion. The cast also held impeccable
Rhode Island accents, especially since most
of them are not originally from the Ocean
State.
The intimately
personal stories of Boots on the Ground
come to life with little fanfare in Dowling
Theater-the stage is only covered in sand
with a crooked, elevated wooden floor. The
cast uses subtle props such as a beach towel
and denim jacket to switch back and forth
between characters. A backdrop displays pictures
throughout the performance from Providence
Journal photographer John Freidah's photos
from his time spent imbedded in Iraq.
A majority of
the performance is spent recalling stories
from those in the military who have already
served in the Iraq war. Three military buddies
rehash graphic stories about enormous camel
spiders, diarrhea, and the effects of excruciating
desert heat. Joe Wilson, Jr delivers a heart
wrenching performance during his recitation
of another experience, that of local soldier
Mike Vallier, in which he comes face to face
with a young insurgent and must pull the trigger
in order to save his own life.
In a particularly
well-directed sequence, two soldiers volley
back and forth as they recall their conflicting
stories about their experiences entering the
Middle East and being greeted by Iraqi citizens.
One soldier jubilantly describes greeters
on the side of the road, waving flags and
smiling, while the other describes the actions
of a group of people well trained in pleasing
those in charge.
Military spouses
are another group of Rhode Islanders that
are strongly represented during Boots on the
Ground. Anne Scurria and Rachael Warren play
the roles of two women who work at the Family
Assistance Office, a support center for military
families. Separately, Warren represents another
military wife who struggles with the isolation
and stomach churning nerves that grip many
spouses who are left with husbands and wives
overseas.
It is also important
to note Stephen Thorne's powerful monologue
as Father Marciano, a priest at St. Rose of
Lima and St. Clement Churches in Warwick who
speaks about the tragedy of burying one of
his young parishioners who died while serving
in Iraq. Local doctors and mental health professionals
also weigh in about the high rates of Post
Traumatic Stress Disorder from those returning
to Rhode Island from war and "traumatic
amputations."
Although Boots
on the Ground attempts to provide viewers
with a well-rounded presentation of the Iraq
war through the eyes of Rhode Islanders, there
are definitely places in which this performance
falls short. Boots raises some important
questions such as "why does a certain
portion of our population feel compelled to
serve?" while never really offering any
answers. Also, although the original 70 interviews
included discussions with people that were
not featured (such as political science experts
and members of a peace group), the performance
is lacking an anti-war dialogue.
However, audience
members are at least allowed the chance to
share their own stories about the war during
the performance's second act-a moderated 30-minute
discussion in which everyone is encouraged
to speak. During Press Night, several people
chose to speak on a variety of topics including
the high numbers of low-income and minority
youth now serving in the military and the
parallels and differences between today's
war and Vietnam. Ticket holders are also welcome
to return for additional discussions on other
performance nights.
Boots
on the Ground runs now through May 21st. Contact
the box office (401-351-4242) for tickets
or visit www.trinityrep.com. |
| |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
