The Lebanon Hostage Crisis lasted from 1982 to 1992. During that time almost 100 individuals, including many American citizens, were kidnapped and held as a human shield against Western retaliation for terrorist violence. Eight hostages died in captivity.
Lee Blessing, already a recognized playwright for his Pulitzer-nominated A Walk in the Woods, went from tackling nuclear disarmament to tackling the hostage crisis. The play debuted in 1988, where it received universal acclaim, both for its importance and its artistry. It was noted as Play of the Year by Time magazine. The play was published in 1990.
How I knew about the Iran mess in 1979 (see Argo) being a historical event, but not about this ongoing situation growing up, I'm not sure. I feel like I was generally aware that this may have been going on, but it was likely just part of a larger awareness that the Middle East was a dicey part of the world.
Regardless, I discovered and read two plays about the same topic in one day, thanks to the Seattle Central Library's play files. The other play is called Someone Who'll Watch Over Me. The two plays told two sides of the same coin, two perspectives on the same story, and I was rapt.
You could say theater is all about relationships, period, I suppose, but even if you were to generalize that way, Two Rooms is one of the best examples I could give you. The characters and the dynamics are the core of it, sometimes it seems like that's all there is to it. How something so simple can be so compelling and, even, complex, is part of the magic of this show, or come to that, Blessing's writing in general.
Those relationships have been at the core of rehearsals, discovering dynamics between individuals, and it's one of the things that the actors have reported as being a very rewarding part of being involved in this show. It's also one of the things that keeps the play interesting, as the relationships and dynamics shift throughout the show.
Without ruining anything, Two Rooms is about a man who was kidnapped, his wife who is waiting for him, the reporter who wants the wife's story, and the State Department rep who wants her to remain quiet. I'll talk more about the show in future posts, but I'll try not to be any more specific. Seriously, come spend two hours with these four people. You won't regret it.
Teaser here: https://vimeo.com/65859781
Trailer here: https://vimeo.com/66049834
Lee Blessing, already a recognized playwright for his Pulitzer-nominated A Walk in the Woods, went from tackling nuclear disarmament to tackling the hostage crisis. The play debuted in 1988, where it received universal acclaim, both for its importance and its artistry. It was noted as Play of the Year by Time magazine. The play was published in 1990.
How I knew about the Iran mess in 1979 (see Argo) being a historical event, but not about this ongoing situation growing up, I'm not sure. I feel like I was generally aware that this may have been going on, but it was likely just part of a larger awareness that the Middle East was a dicey part of the world.
Regardless, I discovered and read two plays about the same topic in one day, thanks to the Seattle Central Library's play files. The other play is called Someone Who'll Watch Over Me. The two plays told two sides of the same coin, two perspectives on the same story, and I was rapt.
You could say theater is all about relationships, period, I suppose, but even if you were to generalize that way, Two Rooms is one of the best examples I could give you. The characters and the dynamics are the core of it, sometimes it seems like that's all there is to it. How something so simple can be so compelling and, even, complex, is part of the magic of this show, or come to that, Blessing's writing in general.
Those relationships have been at the core of rehearsals, discovering dynamics between individuals, and it's one of the things that the actors have reported as being a very rewarding part of being involved in this show. It's also one of the things that keeps the play interesting, as the relationships and dynamics shift throughout the show.
Without ruining anything, Two Rooms is about a man who was kidnapped, his wife who is waiting for him, the reporter who wants the wife's story, and the State Department rep who wants her to remain quiet. I'll talk more about the show in future posts, but I'll try not to be any more specific. Seriously, come spend two hours with these four people. You won't regret it.
Teaser here: https://vimeo.com/65859781
Trailer here: https://vimeo.com/66049834
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