 |
| Philip Middleton Williams |
Those who most loudly proclaim the importance of American “freedom” are ironically the least independent people in our society. They listen to their leaders, and they blindly follow. In the past, that meant going to war wherever they were sent. Today it means not getting vaccinated.
Williams’ sweet family drama is about identical twins Dave and Pete in the early 1970s. One enlists in the army, to become a medic. The other heads to Canada, to go to school, but also to stay. He won’t go when drafted, not just because he’s gay, but becaue he doesn’t believe in it.
What is unique is this piece is that it is not a Vietnam era tragedy in which the father is a bellicose, authoritarian bigot or the mother a homophobic shrew. They are accepting, if not immediately, then easily. Their love of their children is more important than societal pressure or their own generational impulses.
No, the conflict is between the brothers and their separation. This play is a picture of how this war, which tore apart a nation, failed to tear apart one family, which is an uplifting tale to hear.
Who should I read tomorrow?
No comments:
Post a Comment