The cataclysmic effects of Sept. 11 — economic fallout, war, security alerts, a heightened sense of vulnerability — will be felt for years.
These things we know every day, but how will we know and remember the ones who died? “The Guys” is one way.
Playwright Anne Nelson was there on Sept. 11, and she wrote a play about the tragedy in just nine days. Based on real events, it’s a gut-wrenching drama about a New York fire captain who lost eight men in the collapse of the World Trade Center towers, and the journalist who helped him shape his grief into words for their eulogies.
“The Guys” opened off-off Broadway a few blocks from ground zero. A high-profile cast of actors including Bill Murray, Tim Robbins, Swoozie Kurtz and Susan Sarandon made it a must-see evening of theater and a cathartic release for New Yorkers.
Now “The Guys” is a limited-release movie starring Sigourney Weaver and Anthony LaPaglia, but before the mainstream attention, a small theater company in Everett secured the rights to the play, giving it its Northwest premiere.
“The Guys” is now on stage at the PUD Auditorium through May 10 as a production of Stages theater company.
“The Guys” is in keeping with the mission of Stages to offer theater “that makes people think,” according to company president Michael Shaw, who by day is Stormwater Program Coordinator for Mountlake Terrace. Shaw and his wife Peggy, who is the artistic director, got started two years ago with a well-received production of “Wit,” about a woman dying of cancer. Last year they presented a comedy titled “Dearly Departed” about a seriously dysfunctional family.
“The Guys” fits the company’s profile of offering drama that emphasizes human concerns, social issues and topical subject matter.
Playwright Nelson is a journalism professor who helped a New York fire captain write eulogies. Nelson turned this real experience into a play about two fictional characters — Nick the fire captain (played by Glen Hamilton) and Joan the journalist (Amy Leone Walton) — who through a series of monologues and dialogues give a human face to the events of Sept. 11.
When eight firefighters die in the twin towers, their captain Nick is called upon to tell their stories. “You got to understand, over a bad year we might lose maybe … six. This was in one day. One hour,” Nick says to Joan.
Joan says to him: “People who are ordinary … in an extraordinary situation … that’s what this is about.”
Nick can talk about his guys, but he can’t write their eulogies. His agony is transferred to Joan, who can help put this anguish into words at the same time dealing with her own pain.
“It’s more about this sharing of the pain,” said director Jacob Gent “Events like this really do bring people together.”
“The Guys” is somber and intense, but it’s what Gent calls “soap operish.” “It’s played very true.”
The company has had help with this show from the Everett fire and police departments and Snohomish County Fire District 1, according to Michael Shaw. Saturday night performances will be followed by audience discussion.
By presenting “The Guys,” Stages shows its continued commitment to presenting pieces that have something important to say. Now Shaw hopes audiences will respond.
“We will see where this path leads us,” he said, “and we hope it leads us to a long path in Everett.”
Mike Murray is a writer for the Herald newspaper in Everett.
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