Benjamin Wheeler, Mitch Hall, Melissa Murra, Lara Fisher (Photo by Carlos Hernandez Photography)
Reviewed by Lovell Estell III
Force of Nature Productions
Through April 25
Benjamin Wheeler, Mitch Hall (Photo by Carlos Hernandez Photography)
It is difficult to fully comprehend the sacrifices or concerns endured by military families whenever a son or daughter, husband or father, answers the call to serve in the armed forces. This is particularly true when battlefield conflicts are raging, and their loved one could possibly return home in a flag-draped coffin. And the tolls paid by some who fought and survived often cause more psychic damage than a crippling wound, or the persistent, terrifying memories of war.
Military service and its repercussions are at the core of Eric Eberwein’s two-act drama, which takes place in “the recent past, or maybe the near future” and whose central character, Lee (Benjamin Wheeler), is a troubled 18-year old who has had no stability in his life, has been in and out of foster homes for years. Lee finally finds parental love and guidance when he is adopted by Jody (Lara Fisher). She is a doting mother with New-Age leanings and a quick temper. But Jody is not the only source of love for him; he has had a long-standing affair with a marine recruiter Patrick (Mitch Hall) and preserves romantic ties to his on-again-off-again girlfriend Courtney (Melissa Murra).
Lee decides to find “purpose” in his life and joins the Marines, which throws his mother into heated panic; Courtney is deeply fearful, still haunted by the suicide of her uncle who was deployed, while Patrick is more than happy about the decision. We follow Lee through the grinding days of bootcamp to his days fighting on the front line, which slowly transform his ideas about what it means to serve your country, brought on by witnessing a war crime and having recorded it.
His return home manifests the damage combat can do to the human psyche. Lee is all nerves and is dangerously paranoid. His decision to go public with his tape and the consequences take up most of Act II, as he enlists Courteny in a wild, implausible scheme to help him.
Eberwein’s script holds up until Act II but then loses much of its heft — and focus — bolstering Lee’s tangled, well-intentioned scheme to broadcast the tape. It’s never made clear what the result is from Lee’s efforts, and moreso the impact on those in his life. The finale is as puzzling as it is convenient. This doesn’t detract, however, from performances that are first rate, and solid direction by Jahel Corban Caldera. Kudos to Kyle Donovan and Michelle Miyamoto-Galvan’s simple, yet effective lighting design.
Force of Nature Productions at Sawyer’s Playhouse, 11031 Camarillo St, North Hollywood. Fri.-Sat., 8 pm; Http://www.Sawyersplayhouse.com or (818) 934-1366. Running time: One hour, forty minutes with intermission.
