'This War is Live' tackles tough issue

You may be shocked by the language, brief nudity and implied sex at the world premiere of Jeff Messer's "This War Is Live," which opened Thursday at the Footlight Players. But you won't be bored, and you'll come away wondering if you ever can trust our government's intel again.

This is by no means a flawless play, but it contains some fine acting and is a refreshing attempt to show how violence abroad is tearing our country apart. The drama relates an attempt by documentary filmmaker Grant Blake to present the Iraq war as fairly as possible by personally witnessing what is happening.

Messer, an Asheville, N.C., resident who has written 25 plays, many performed regionally, has done his homework on this volatile subject, which is timely, given the recent fifth anniversary of the start of the war in Iraq.

Multimedia is used skillfully as Messer intersperses news footage with videotapes of actors. One of those actors is Eric Collins, who is convincing as a soldier seriously wounded in an explosion. After his interview, Collins, who fears he will become homeless and is worried about the care given to veterans, commits suicide. His family is told their son died in battle.

Another character, Major Brad, sympathetically played by Mark Gorman, feels it's all worth it, believing U.S. intelligence that says Iraq is partially responsible for the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Major Brad also is Blake's childhood friend, and he honors the filmmaker's request to become embedded in his unit assigned to Baghdad.

In the first act, Patrick Ryan as Blake needed to speak louder, as did James Pillow, as a cameraman and Bettina Beard as a "reporter." But in Act II, all were much more forceful, especially Ryan, as they recognized the deception by their own government.

Director JC Conway should be lauded for tackling this work, even though he openly disagrees with its message. Also, Footlight Players is not afraid to take on controversy, showing that not only is this war live, but so is theater.

The drama runs at 9 p.m. today and April 10-12. Tickets at the door.