|
|
|
Written by Andra Coberly
|
|
Thursday, 07 February 2008 |
|
|
|
|
An Englishman, an Irishman and an American walk into a dark room with concrete floors and are chained to the wall.
This could be the start of a distasteful joke.
Instead, it’s the beginning of the very sad story of “Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me,” which runs through March 2 at Bas Bleu Theatre: Three men are plucked from their lives in Lebanon and stowed away as hostages in a lonesome room for months. There is no sign of daylight, no communication with the outside. Just long, tortuous hour after long, tortuous hour of waiting. On the other side of their door, guards watch and listen to their every word, their tears and their laughter.
As the months pass by, there is much of that: conversations, tears and laughter. The Englishman, the Irishman and the American live on in this cave-like room with stories, memories, humor and quarrels serving as their lifeboat.
“Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me,” directed by Jonathan Farwell, written by Frank McGuinness and inspired by the story of Irish hostage Brian Keenan, should hold a special place in the hearts of Fort Collins residents. One of the city’s greatest philanthropists, Tom Sutherland, was kidnapped, more than 20 years ago while driving through the streets of Beirut, by gunmen from Islamic Jihad. He had been serving as a dean at American University but soon became a six-year captive—his ankle chained to a wall for more than 2,300 days.
For that reason, but not that reason alone, residents should turn out for “Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me.” The community, along with Sutherland’s family and friends, waited eagerly for his safe return from captivity. And now, back since 1991, Sutherland has bestowed his wealth upon this town. Bas Bleu could literally be named after the man for all that he has given to it. And putting “Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me” on in that theater is an homage to him.
More than that, the play is entertaining. It’s funny and moving and even lighthearted in the midst of being tragic.
Adam (played by Leonard F. Barrett Jr.) is an American doctor working in Lebanon who is taken off the street and put in a cell; Barrett’s performance creates a hardened, complex Adam, who we never get to know completely. He is soon joined by Irish journalist Edward (Robert Reid), who brings his sarcasm, feisty sensibility and imagination to the room. The two form a solid, compassionate relationship of trust and sympathy. And then comes English professor Michael (Charlie Ferrie), who is good-natured but a bit snooty.
Reid, spirited and animated as the show’s unpretentious comic relief, plays a perfect antagonist to the effeminate, uber-British Ferrie.
As the three carry on in the cell, sometimes going a bit crazy or sometimes hating each other, they eventually come together. And together, they fight the enemy the only way they can: by watching over each other. “Laugh so they can hear you,” they insist.
It’s that tenderness hidden within anger and fear and sarcasm that gives “Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me” its depth, heartbreaking at times and laugh-out-loud funny in others. McGuinness’ script and Farwell’s direction are both done simply (a good thing, in this case), and the play feels like a montage of moments in captivity, creating a well-paced production that progresses nicely — though, it does seem a bit too long.
What’s most impressive about Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me is that it does not try to be anything other than a glimpse into how three captive men make due with what they have. At its most basic, it’s about survival.
TO GO:
“Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me”
• Bas Bleu Theatre, 401 Pine St. in Fort Collins
• 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through March 1
• 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, Feb. 21 and 28
• 2:30 p.m. Sundays Feb. 10, 17, 24 and March 2
• $19, $12 students
• Call 498-8949 or go online to www.basbleu.org
————— | Only registered users can write comments.
Please login or register. |
|
|  | "Humankind cannot gain anything without first giving something in return. To obtain, something of equal value must be lost. That is Alchemy's first law of Equivalent Exchange. In those days, we really believed that to be the world's one, and only truth." | |
|  | We're not that bright, even though in our own little world, we're geniuses. We like 80s hair bands and one-hit wonders, but among us we have respectable tastes, too. Metallica, Iron Maiden, U2. Pursuit of all things trivial is a lifestyle, not just a game. We like some sports, love other sports, and can find something to say about anything. We watch TV and movies and we've read a book or two, even a few classics (Yes, Classic Comics count!)
We call it insight, you call it what you will. | |
|  | Felix Wong is an outdoor enthusiast living in Fort Collins. A mechanical engineer by day, he is especially passionate about bicycling, running, and backpacking. | |
|  | Hola Amigos! I'm Sandra. I like to believe that people are 70 percent good and 30 percent dumb. I'm stickin to that story. Reading this blog might make you want to be good, but probably just dumb. | |
|  | Donovan Henderson is editor of NEXTnc. | |
|  | Here at Nextnc we have some characters. Get a sneak peak behind the curtain and find out what amusing antics our staffers get themselves into on a weekly basis. | |
|  | What is up FoCo?
I am a recent college graduate of Minnesota State University Moorhead. After recieving my B.A. in English and Mass Communications this past August I moved down to Colorado.
I enjoy long walks on the beach, candlelight dinners, and heavy metal. My hobbies include reading and writing, music, movies, and getting drunk. Some of my favorite contemporary authors include Bret Easton Ellis, Chuck Palahniuk, and Kurt Vonnegut. My top movies are anything directed by Kubrick. I enjoy listening to anything that rocks.
Right now I am just trying to get to know Colorado and FoCo better. Mostly in order to find the best drink specials on each day that ends in Y. So if you know where I can get a cheap drunk on, let me know!
--Drew | |
|  | Life's little morsels of inspiration, observation and encouragement seen through the eyes of the Nextnc reporter.
| |
|  | Ms. Giles currently lives in Colorado where she stars in her own private reality show. She writes aphoristic accounts of her life, taken completely out of context, and embellished with characters and situations disguised to resemble something close to interesting. | |
|  | over and out | |
| | My name is Michelle Turley and I'm 28 years old. I live in Severance with my hubbie, Brandon. We have 2 dogs and a cat. We enjoy camping, four-wheeling, and just being in the mountains. I like to cook, clean (go figure), flea market, and play poker. I have so much to say about poker... | |
|
|
