By Kathryn Willis
In Voices from Vietnam, now premiering at Journey Theater in Warrenton, playwright Dr. Harry J. Kantrovich doesn’t highlight a specific character. As an alternative, the manufacturing’s true star is the uncooked story itself, revealed by way of every character’s private expertise from that scarring, conflicted interval.
The tales aren’t singularly concerning the harrowing firefights and slim escapes, the agony of POWs and the lack of comrades, nor the riveting fears of the troopers themselves. As an alternative, Kantrovich broadens the scope by giving voice to the medics, the nurses, the Vietnamese whose lives have been irrevocably modified, the widows, and the kids who by no means knew their dads.
Power Grasp Chief Tom Snee, USN(Ret) as himself in ‘Voices from Vietnam.’ Picture by Thor Matthews.
Their monologues come to our ears by way of a long time of suppressed feelings, the place the angst and ache, and wish for reconciliation, weren’t welcomed into the general public dialog. And so, the ability of their phrases is that this manufacturing’s true star…straight from the writings uncovered from trustworthy, main sources.
Because the viewers hears from these characters, additionally they expertise the small joys of navy life — the full pleasure of utilizing a rest room that flushes, the luxurious of mendacity on scorching sand earlier than a dip within the ocean, the reminiscence of buying a particular dollhouse for a daughter again house — particulars that carry us extra intimately into their second.
Augmenting these vignettes are scenes from Vietnam projected above the stage, and in lots of instances, photographs of the folks themselves, of their youthful our bodies. Often, the sounds of whirring helicopter blades and rat-tat-tat of machine gunfire increase the projections.
Middle stage is a desk, with a single place setting, white linens, a rose, a wine glass, and an empty seat — universally acknowledged because the open invitation to each soul who served, and is now not with us.
LEFT: Danette Illig as Leanne Sage Withers; RIGHT: Doug Barylski as Steve Smith, in ‘Voices from Vietnam.’ Pictures by Thor Matthews.
A narrator introduces every character; he and lots of the actors descend from the stage, as if to determine private contact and intimacy with their listeners, nearly as if in personal dialog. Diversified lighting often shifts the highlight, giving a considerate pause to those intimate exchanges.
The set is easy — a half-circle of chairs, and flags above — the Stars and Stripes, flags of the Military, Navy, Marines, and naturally, the stark black-and-white flag of the POWs. The stage sides, and the corridor, are festooned with crimson, white, and blue accents, together with a number of that proclaim “Welcome Home” — a phrase that almost all of those vets by no means heard.
Within the foyer, reveals of images and memorabilia, in addition to a show desk the place the guide Voices from Vietnam, by navy creator Bruce “Doc” Norton, are on sale. “Doc” himself tells his Vietnam service story as the primary character within the manufacturing. Norton collaborated with Kantrovich in writing the play, augmenting the contents from his personal analysis.
Kantrovich brings to this manufacturing a lifetime of theater expertise. The theme of battle recollections can also be a well-known one: He labored with Tom Brokaw to craft The Biggest Era Speaks, the play primarily based on Brokaw’s well-known guide. Certainly, it was Brokaw who adopted up with Kantrovich, encouraging him to craft a manufacturing about Vietnam.
It’s a sturdy, riveting play, and a needed one. Whereas we nonetheless hail The Biggest Era for its heroism in saving our freedoms, the purpose of this manufacturing is that those that served in Vietnam have been referred to as to obligation from the identical sense of honor and patriotism of that earlier era. They advantage our consideration, and our gratitude. Every actor conveys this sense within the heartfelt interpretation of their character, which should have turn out to be part of their true selves.
Regardless that the tales are assorted and really particular, the one caveat is that the play is lengthy.
The inventive groups embrace Natalie Folie, assistant director; Doug Barylski, Stacie Duvall, and Walt Meyer, producers, and Playbill designer Stub Estey (who additionally painting characters); Pat Jannell, stage supervisor/props; Stacy King, lighting designer; Michelle Matthews and Kaitlyn Nelson, sound; and Thor Matthews, photographer. Collectively, they offer form and setting to those phrases, permitting us as viewers to enter the expertise of every recollection.
This play isn’t a simple one, however it’s one that can all the time be remembered — because the characters’ tales themselves bear witness. We, as beneficiaries of their service and their lives, will certainly be the higher for having listened.
Working Time:
Voices from Vietnam performs by way of November 24, 2024 (Friday to Saturday at 7:30 pm, Sunday at 2 pm), at Journey Theater, Vint Hill, 4175 Bludau Drive, Warrenton VA. Buy tickets ($12–$20) on-line. For extra data, name 540-272-8141.
Voices from Vietnam was written by Dr. Harry Kantrovich, a retired Navy Grasp Chief, in collaboration with Bruce H. “Doc” Norton, a retired Marine Corps Main and Vietnam veteran. The play focuses and expands the battle’s impression past that of the veteran. Norton’s guide by the identical title, just lately printed, can also be on sale.
Kathryn Willis is a long-time arts and cultural advocate within the larger Fredericksburg area, specializing within the visible arts, historical past, and cultural occasions. College of Mary Washington, Virginia Tech, GW College.