The War Room
Here is a political thriller that borrows heavily from the current scene to etch out a group of characters that are embroiled in a conflict of worldwide consequences – not too different from the what the country faces today.
John Cato - Frank Ashmore - Henry LeBlanc - Kristin Carey - Kim Estes |
President Jack Christian Doyle faces a nuclear threat (and he can actually pronounce the word nuclear!) from a Middle Eastern tyrant, and the advisors around the President try to advance their own agenda regardless of whether its good for the country or not. All the usual suspects are there – a sexy Miss Bloom who spends almost as much time under the president’s desk as she does spread out on it, a rigid Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, ready to go to war at a moment’s notice, and a blustering, self serving Secretary of Defense, who can’t see beyond his glasses. |
| They both lobby to send
thousands of troops without attempting any negotiations as the strong
willed, attractive National Security Advisor, and the fairly low key
Secretary of State argue against war.
A solicitous personal assistant completes the inner circle
tugging at the president’s ear. The dilemma is simple – go
to war to try to disarm the tyrant – or keep the peace and risk
attack from him. To add
to the problem, the President keeps seeing visions of his dead
brother who was killed in combat in Viet Nam, asking him not to
fight, and then has a visit from the dead man’s wife begging him to
bring her soldier son back from the Middle East conflict.
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| The best scenes are when the dead
brother’s image visits the Oval Office and transports the president
to the jungles of Viet Nam showing the horrors of war. While the theme is definitely anti-war, the nobility and
humanity of the American Soldier is wonderfully portrayed. Dean Purvis is excellent in the role of Lt Edward Doyle.
The president is played by Henry Leblanc with a mix of humor,
confusion and lack of resolve, unable to make the big decisions
(sound familiar?). There’s
a little of Clinton, a dash of JFK and some of Bush mixed in, except
that he eventually finds the strength to make the right choice.
Frank Ashmore gives Mitchell Stone, the secretary of Defense, a credible pompous know it all attitude and a particularly harsh misogynous attitude against the National Security Advisor, played by Kristin Carey, who is a little more difficult to buy as the “tough as nails” woman in the cabinet playing hardball with the boys. Henry LeBlanc - Dean Purvis |
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She gets some good zingers in, and acquits herself well overall, but may be a little young to play a role where the character portrayed usually requires years of experience and maturity. On the other hand, young, sexy Sasha Rovin as Miss Bloom, is way better than Monica could ever be, giving new definitions to the concept of serving at the "pleasure of the President". As General Robert E. Raden, Kim Estes is totally there, in razor crisp uniform and a rocklike face that means business – and his business is war.
In the end, the President is persuaded by events of the past, by a realization that the future could have devastating and horrible effects if he is wrong and by a strong sense of morality that respects the value of human life. That’s where any similarity to the current administration ends.
Opening night had a group of George Washington High ROTC students in full uniform acting as guides, ushers and hosts, adding authenticity to the ambiance, which could have used a little more upscale set in the Oval Office. To the detriment of the company, most of us have seen enough movies with the Oval Office, so that we’ve come to expect at least a royal blue carpet with the Presidential Seal. Credit the actors for selling the story on a set that has the requisite props, but looks like they were purchased at Big!Lots. LeBlanc’s President Doyle could use a better haircut, (after all Clinton spend a couple of thousand on his) and the men’s suits need pressing, if we want to believe they are white house staffers.
The costumer, Michael Santiago did find Viet Nam era uniforms for the jungle scenes and the sound engineer Bill Jurney provides authentic background bombs and explosions.
The War Room gives you a lot to think about, especially when the arguments they make are things we hear on the media, but with very different results.
Other actors include Matthew Hoffman, John Cato, Bill Norrett, Kathrin Lautner and Amy Christine.
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Photos by Summer Mahoney
WHAT: “The War Room”, World Premiere engagement of a new play.
WHO: Written and directed by Cassius Allen Shuman. Produced by Kristin Carey, Kim
Estes and Cassius Allen Shuman for Tucker Road Productions.
WHERE:
McCadden Place Theatre
1157 N. McCadden Place,
Hollywood.
This is oneblock east of Highland Ave. and almost one block north of Santa Monica Blvd. Parking is available across the street.
WHEN: April 29- May 23, 2004. Thursdays through Saturdays at 8, Sundays at 2.
ADMISSION: $20 general; $15 for veterans.
RESERVATIONS AND INFORMATION: (323) 878-0773.