Roger that.
F911 came to town Wed. I was putting together a group to go see it, but a friend (appropriately named Kat) suggested postponing it to see a play called "American Peace".
This was a most entertaining and thought provoking little play which entirely local in nature; author, producer, director, actors. Quite unfortunate, because this really deserves to be seen by a wide audience.
The premise is that (in the summer of ought two), the admin of prez Dwayne Bulshi and veep Linsay Chinini has managed to clone Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, Wilson, and JFK, and want them to spearhead a PR campaign for war in Iraq. Most of the first act was spent bringing the older guys up to speed; changed tech, American military power, petrogeopolitics, etc.
2nd verse, same as the first. After showing the boys a few test commercials backing war, the dead presidents finally get their say. Oh, I forgot; my memory must be like Raygun, who was an advisor to the Bulshi admin, being "not dead" yet, but claiming to be recloned from a rectal polyp. All 5 condemn the idea, and refuse to participate. Along the way, JFK starts asking about Nam, and starts connecting dots..."I want my 'let's get out of Nam Executive Order' and the order rescinding it. What, the second is dated Nov. 26? Let's see, I was killed the 22nd, I figure my funeral was the 25th, so, on the first working day...? You SOB's. You said I was shot from behind? You said I was cloned from some brain tissue on the rear bumper? That doesn't compute. (To Raygun) You people killed me, blah blah."
After the dead prez society all refuse, Bulshi has them arrested, cuffed, hauled off, and terminated.
Being a small theater, it was easy to see facial expressions. In fact, during a commercial, Washington was like 5 feet from me, and I was in the top row. Often, facial and body language said more than the dialogue. A bunch of totally disgusted presidents, except Raygun, who was busy thinking of how much he would make from the commercials and eating jelly beans. I wish this play would be seen by a larger audience; it deserves it. Oh, and the SecDef should have been the veep; much more Cheyneyesque in looks and mannerisms than von Rumsfeldt.
Rat
12 June
New Play About the Iraq War Opens in Willits
What role should the United States of America play in the world? And if six presidents who embody what is best or most pivotal in American history could have been brought back to life in June 2002, what would they have said about America's then pending war against Iraq?
These two questions form the basis of American Peace, an original play written by Willits resident Michael A'Dair, which will be performed in Willits July 1 through July 4.
In American Peace, six presidents -- Ronald Reagan, John F. Kennedy, Woodrow Wilson, Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson and George Washington -- are cloned and enlisted in a Top Secret US government project: to make television commercials in support of the war against Iraq.
But when the wily John F. Kennedy insists that in order to do a good job of acting in the commercials, the presidents must know the truth about why America wants to invade Iraq, the administration of sitting president Dwayne W. E. Bulshi decides to role the dice and to tell them the truth.
Through this very rare example of political honesty, we learn about the secret plan to dominate the world that has been behind all of America's wars since 1945 and we come to understand the extent to which America's intelligence network has influenced US foreign policy and undermined our democracy.
Directed by Ellen Drell, American Peace features performances by Gene Stewart as Ronald Reagan, Kenneth Farnsworth III as the Chairman of the Federal Reserve, William Ray as the Secretary of Defense, Keith Canova as the Secretary of State, Lee Adams as Vice President Lindsay R. Chihini, Fred Sly as President Dwayne Bulshi, Creek Norris as George Washington, Louis Rohlicek as Thomas Jefferson, Rick Rader as Abraham Lincoln, Michael A'Dair as Woodrow Wilson and Harvey Baumoel as John F. Kennedy.
American Peace will be presented at the Willits Community Theatre Playhouse, 37 West Van Lane, in Willits. Performances are Thursday, July 1 at 7 p.m., Friday, July 2 and Saturday July 3 at 8 p.m., and Sunday, July 4 at 3 p.m. There will only be four performances so don't wait for the second weekend. Get your tickets now.
Tickets are available starting June 19th for $10 for all seats at Goods' Stamp Shoppe, 56 South Main Street in Willits, or they can be reserved in advance by calling Goods' at 459-1363.
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