Excerpted from The City Paper, Toledo, Ohio, Page 15, Jan. 18 - 24, 2001
Curtain Call
By Alyce Lutomski
VILLAGE PLAYERS' "PRIVATE WARS"
A half-hour excerpt from "Private Wars" at a theater competition grabbed John Henry. "It blew me away!" Even after several years, he couldn't get the compelling scenes out of his head.
The Village Players Board asked him to direct. "I've always been a little afraid to try it," he confesses, but he had the project: "Private Wars," the story of three Vietnam veterans struggling with physical and mental damage, at the VP through January 27. Concerns about the subject matter were overcome, as were debates about "cleaning up" the dialogue. Playwright James McLure pulls no punches with language, but the words are natural in this setting. "They're not in just for shock value," Henry says.
Giving voice to the vets is a trio of actors that will rock the Upton Avenue stage. Jake Gordy (Woodruff Gately) has an Excellence in Acting Award from the Northwest Ohio Community Theater Association. "Jake has that mysterious 'thing' called stage presence," says Henry. "I look forward to watching his progress."
Silvio (Derek Hansen) bears the worst physical scars of the three. Henry did an audition scene with Hansen for "Greetings" in which the young actor played a mentally-challenged boy. Henry remembers thinking, "I'm going to have to run like hell to keep up with this kid. Now that I've had the pleasure of directing him...my admiration for his talent has grown even higher."
John Jennens (Natwick) debuted at the VP in "That Championship Season," acting with Henry, who remembers him as "brilliant." Henry, a Korean War vet rumored to wear his dogtags while directing this production, remarks, "It is a good deal easier to direct him, than it is to fight for the spotlight."
Co-director Norb Mills and Henry describe "Private Wars" as a very funny black comedy with flashes of tragedy that "tear your heart out." Beyond the humor lies the raw truth of each soldier's private war. "It's a thinking show," says Mills of the short vignettes that make up the play.
"Private Wars" will be one to remember! Info: 419/472-6817.
Last Modified: 02/25/06