Yvonne Latty's In Conflict
Temple University Production at NY's Culture Project
By: Charles Giuliano - Sep 30, 2008
In Conflict
Based on a book by Yvonne Latty; Directed and Adapted by Douglas C. Wager; Set Design, Andrew Laine; Lighting, J. Dominic Chavon; Sound, Christopher Cappello; Costumes, Marian Cooper, Video, Warren Bass. Starring: Tim Chambers (John Ball, Jr., Darrell Anderson) Ethan Haymes (Jon Soltz) Amanda Holston (Kelly Dougherty) Suyeon Kim (Tammy Duckworth) Sean Lally (Ivan Medina, Robert Acosta) Joy Notoma (Tracy Ringo) Sam Paul (Sam White, Julius Tulley) Danielle Pinnock (Lisa Haynes) Tom Rader (Matthew Miller, Ty Simmons) Stan Demidoff (Alex Presman) Damon Williams (Herold Noel, James Daniels)
Culture Project, Barrow Street Theatre, 27 Barrow Street at 7th Avenue, New York
In Repertory, every other week, rotating with The Atheist starring Campbell Scott.
http://www.cultureproject.org
Yvonne Latty, an African American, Clinical Professor of Journalism at New York University traveled extensively in the United States to interview 25 veterans of the Iraq War. This resulted in the acclaimed book "In Conflict." Using a cast of students at Temple University the material was adapted by Douglas G. Wager for the stage. The production went to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival where it won the Fringe First Award.
The powerful, raw and poignant production opened Off Broadway, last week, as a part of Culture Project at the Barrow Street Theatre. Culture Project describes its mission "to bear witness to injustice, to identify and use artistic recourses to stimulate challenging conversation about the most profound and urgent matters of our timeÂ…" The plays currently running in repertory "In Conflict" and Ronan Noone's "The Atheist" (starring Campbell Scott) are stunning examples of that ambitious mandate. "The Atheist" which premiered at the Huntington Theatre Company, in Boston, was one of the season's most riveting productions at Williamstown Theatre Festival. Now New Yorkers will have the opportunity to be intrigued and repulsed by the smarmy, but brilliant, anti hero Augustine Early. Review of The Atheist
Just about every aspect of "In Conflict" is rough, jagged, and unpolished from the performances of a cast of students, the simplistic and crude sets and lighting, to ragged production values. But, arguably, this is just as it should be as this play provided a stunning and absorbing evening focused on the shattered and fractured emotions of the flower of American youth crushed under the heavy heel of war.
This is not to imply that the drama is a polemical example of leftist, pacifist, defeatist, agit-prop. We may leave the theater angry and saddened by the experience but that is not the strident intention of this insightful work of art. The very fact that the audience opts to have this experience, sadly, implies that the play preaches to the converted. One may only hope that eventually a production may find its way to television and reach out to Americans on all sides of the social and political spectrum.
We, as a people and nation, need to hear the poignant and patriotic, broken and damaged voices of these young veterans. What is conveyed over and over is their love of country and commitment to serve. They convey the values of the young and idealistic that has paid a terrible price. Who, arguably, will never again be whole or secure. Which of course is a truism and cliché of all wars.
The voices and characters that Latty conveys to the audience are not strident or bitter. They hope that their sacrifices have not been wasted; that there is indeed a purpose in this conflict. To fight evil and terrorism abroad so that Americans may be safe and secure at home. Of course, we know that this is simplistic and naive. The dialogues about the current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are deeper and more complex.; are layered with greed, political ambition, lies, and propaganda.
These are the voices and stories of a sample of brave young men and women, heroes, who just answered the call. Latty allows them to tell their stories and lets us draw our own conclusions. We visit the VA hospital to hear from patients with amputated limbs in rehab. A young doctor who gushes with enthusiasm over her wonderful experiences. A Navajo on a reservation speaking of his warrior traditions. The confusion that resulted in shooting a mother because her swadled infant was mistaken for a bomb. How the baby was then crushed over and over by an advancing column of trucks. A young girl who urged a friend to join her in the reserves for free college tuition. Then got shipped out with 24 hour notice.
What the Temple students lack in skill and nuance is more than compensated by their passion and commitment. Their awkwardness emerges as a metaphor for loss and innocence. Not every individual in this production is destined for a career in theatre. Rather, this represents for them a remarkable moment and opportunity. They have seized the time and we find ourselves completely drawn in and won over by their youth, energy and idealism.
Perhaps this play has a limited shelf life although it is current, fresh, vibrant and topical. Unfortunately, what makes it timely and relevant is a war that drags on with no end in sight. This evening of theatre allows us to hear the voices of a generation that has answered the call and paid the price for freedom. As much as one may deplore the Iraq war this play pleads with us to support the troops. It's a tough message.