Spinning Stories

www.inconflicttheplay.com

             An American flag on one side and a map of Iraq on the other – three large tablets occupy the middle of the stage. Each tablet depicting a different portion of the image and spinning independently of the others – forcefully turned by the troubled characters, whose lives have spun just as much as those three central tablets. “In Conflict”, a new production by Douglas C. Wager, chronicles the individual stories of the magnificent characters that constitute the diverse group of Iraqi war veterans upon whom the play centers.

            Like the veterans whose stories are told in the play, the actors of “In Conflict” dominate the stage. They are a group of students and recent graduates from Temple University whose inexperience is unperceivable in their performances. Their dramatic and emotional accounts of the experiences of the Iraqi war veterans are examples of pure mastery. Although the hard work that they put into perfecting their portrayal of the characters is seen in the careful execution of their roles, the resulting performance seems neither forced nor overly prepared – it is simply a beautiful collection of the many accounts of Iraqi war veterans.

            The excessive use of props in this play is an extremely surprising element of the performance. Although all performances use sets and props to better tell their story, the simplicity of the set of “In Conflict” – composed of only three large tablets – emphasizes the use of various props throughout the play. The constant changing of these props adds to the conflicting tensions that radiates throughout the play – from the two sides of the tablets to the sudden emotional breakdowns of the characters. In addition, these props help to emphasize and further dramatize the stories that are so heavily dependent on drama and an emotional reaction.

            The carefully planned and performed presentation of “In Conflict” dazzles as its various discordant pieces come together to make a harmonious work full of beauty and a profound understanding of the human spirit. In its retelling of the stories of several Iraqi war veterans, the play gives a voice to those who have bravely fought for our country. It tells of their victories, their fears, their losses, their uncertainties – weaving an exquisite tapestry of stories.