Long Wharf Theatre To Present ‘In Conflict,’ One Night Only

NEW HAVEN — Long Wharf Theatre, in conjunction with Temple Theaters, will present the provocative new work In Conflict, adapted by Douglas C. Wager from the book by Yvonne Latty. The show will be staged on Tuesday, January 22, at 8 pm, on Stage II. Tickets are $10.

In Conflict will feature – just as in Ms Latty’s book entitled In Conflict: Iraq War Veterans Speak Out On Duty, Loss and the Fight To Stay Alive –first-hand accounts from Iraq War veterans, word-for-word, performed by a troupe of actors currently studying at Temple University. The student actors have worked closely with the audiotape conversations recorded during Ms Latty’s interview process. In many instances the students spoke to the real life veterans immortalized in the recordings.

The production was originally staged at Temple University in September 2007 to critical acclaim.

“The biggest surprise so far of the season was Temple Theater’s world premiere In Conflict,” wrote J. Cooper Robb in the Philadelphia Weekly’s recap of the 2007 city theatre scene. “The production featured a host of remarkable performances from a student cast portraying servicemen and women stationed in Iraq. A dramatic and disquieting work, In Conflict prompted a renewed respect for the young Americans who sacrifice their limbs, lives and sanity daily in an increasingly regrettable conflict.”

“The Iraq War is still with us,” Mr Wager wrote in his director’s note. “Troops continue to be deployed and redeployed. When they come back, they deserve not only a debt of gratitude, but they deserve the chance to be heard, listened to and understood.”

“Their tales of war and its impact on them are breathtaking,” wrote former United State Senator Max Clelan in his introduction to the play. “They rivet us in our seats, and they hit us in the gut. We are there with them – for a moment. For the first time, we feel what they feel – the forward fear, the terror, the confusion, the doubt, the anger, and the frustration of being caught up in something much bigger than them. We realize that ultimately they are just fighting to survive.”

Having previously worked with Anna Deavere Smith, who is currently premiering her new solo play Let Me Down Easy at Long Wharf Theatre, Mr Wager was convinced that Ms Latty’s book could be adapted for the stage using Ms Smith’s signature style. Ms Smith crafts a topical, visceral brand of theatre, using interviews and a precise rendering of the subject’s physicality to explore larger themes. Mr Wager put his students through the same paces.

“Beyond the thrill of creating an original theatre piece, this project has awakened my understanding of what it means to be an American,” Mr Wager wrote.

The show features Temple University student performers Sam Paul, Suyeon Kim, Sean Lally, Tom Rader, Stan Sinyakov, Tim Chambers, Danielle Pinnock, Ethan Haymes, Damon Williams, Amanda Holston and Joy Natoma.

The original production of In Conflict features set designs by Andrew Laine; costumes by Marian Cooper; lighting by Dom Chacon; sound by Chris Cappello with Paul Winnick serving as music advisor; and video design and production by Warren Bass, assisted by Gary Yong. The stage manager is Dana Hurley.

For more information call 203-787-4282 or visit LongWharf.org.