Writer's Block - Separated by Invisible Walls

Genre Definition = Intense · Intellectual

Presented by 1265 Productions, Writer's Block is a new script written and directed by Nathaniel Roy. The show is 40 minutes in length featuring three actors. Its description is: "A Canadian soldier, an Afghan insurgent, and an Afghan civilian must write letters on convalescences after an "act of god" takes the lives of their families." 

Pretty straightforward, right? And it is. We know from the beginning that two characters are siblings of the soldiers who were killed. We understand that they are struggling with accepting what has happened and their seemingly assigned task to write a letter home to their respective families to explain the tragedy. Neither speaks to each other. We learn how their loss is connected - one is the sister of a Canadian soldier (Devon Thor), one is the brother of an Afghan insurgent (John S. Dickinson). Which leaves the final corner of the triangle to be the Afghan civilian (Natasha Rose Wahid) - apparently the one who caused the deaths and is awaiting punishment.

The script is set up as three separate monologues and often the speeches overlap and reinforce each other. This production of Writer's Block offers strong performances by three young actors who are working with challenging material. But as an audience member, I felt that the struggle of each character was very similar. Though they were two different characters, the two siblings certainly seemed to be facing the same struggle - how to understand the conflicted feelings of their deceased siblings who were deeply involved in the violence. The third character (who did not speak until halfway through the play) did bring a contrasting view (as she was pleading for understanding). In this play, it's not only the characters who suffer from being blocked; it's also the audience members who must watch three characters separated by invisible walls.  

 

By Allyson McGrane
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