The University of West Georgia’s theatre department kicked off their 2010 spring season with “Plumfield, Iraq,” a play written by Barbara Lebow and directed by Pauline Gagnon.

“Plumfield, Iraq” is set in the present-day mind of the protagonist Mike (Andrew Patton). Mike is a young man fresh out of high school, who doesn’t know what the future has in store for him. After graduation, he and his best friend, Cam, decided to go to Iraq together to pay for college. Events happen in Iraq that cause Mike to suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

In the play, Mike goes through flashbacks, conflicting with his everyday reality.

During the show, the audience can feel the emotions that the actors bring to the stage. Patton played the role of Mike with so much anger and sadness that the audience felt the way PTSD made him suffer.

Although the set designs were simple, they combined with the costumes, videos, and pictures of Iraq to make viewers feel as if they were really there. The setting was simple. Iraq scenes included rocks and dirt, and projected pictures of children in the war-zone on the walls.

The play was performed in the Richard Dangle Theatre, which created an intimate feel for the audience. It also allowed for interaction between the actors and crowd.

The play was controversial, depending on the individual. Some might say it was appropriate for a college audience, while others felt that the play was too much to handle. Despite the different outlooks, the audience still cheered loudly at its close.

“Plumfield, Iraq” was educational in many ways. The audience learned that PTSD is a disorder that affects many veterans’ and soldiers’ lives.

“My hope is that you emerge from the experience with a clearer idea of the battles our veterans face, long after they have left the war zone,” said Gagnon.

“Pumfield, Iraq” will be performed at the Richard Dangle Theatre on Feb. 23-25 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are free for UWG students, $7 for seniors, and $8 for the community.

For more information, call 678-839-4722 or visit the UWG Theatre website at http://www.westga.edu/~theatre for information on upcoming shows.
 

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