RSS
Home
Down Range important play to see, especially now
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
Thaddeus Daniels and Bob Celli play returning soldiers in Down Range
It couldn't be more timely. A production about soldiers returning from the front of war, dealing with the front at home. It's Veterans Day Wednesday, the President recently greeted coffins at an air force base and he was shaken by the experience. And then just last week, a major shot fellow soldiers at Fort Hood.
The horrors of war continue to haunt us, generation after generation.
With that, a new play titled, Down Range is now on the boards at Theater 3, 311 West 43rd Street.
Written by Jeffrey Skinner, the piece brings to light all the issues of war that infiltrate a life, a marriage, a family. It's an important play and is well acted by the four main characters whose lives we follow. Two twenty plus year veterans return home after their convoy is hit by an IED in Iraq. Torn between family and the call of duty, their war continues at home, opening old wounds of betrayal, fear, infidelity and loneliness for them and their wives. It's a moving portrayal of what happens to returning soldiers, and how their loved ones are also affected.
Bob Celli has terrific chemistry with his buddy played by the equally talented Thaddeus Daniels. These two fine actors really must work together again, because it's a delight to see them play against each other.
The wives of these two friends (Rachel Parker and Tracy Weller) also do a fine job, though I would have liked to see actors that were a bit closer in age to the two men. I found the difference in years to be a bit distracting.The other distraction was a non specific accent from Ms. Weller. It was finally explained that she was German, but I know I spent a good part of the first act trying to identify the region.
Kudos to the imaginative stage design by Tim McMath that set the scenes for us beautifully.
Directed by Trish Minskoff, the play works, although, it needs more tightening, crispness and clarity as scenes flow from one into the other, often times without a real sense of where we are, and when it is.
This is all fixable. Bottom line, this is an important play, and the drama and emotion is very apparent throughout.
And big bonus: All proceeds from Down Range ticket sales will be donated to Soldier’s Heart, a veterans’ return and healing charitable organization addressing the emotional and spiritual needs of veterans, their families and communities. http://www.soldiersheart.net
Down Range is in its' final week, closing November 14th at Theater 3. Go to: http://www.smarttix.com for ticket info.
Make a point to see it, especially at this time of year.
Related Articles:
Add a Comment
