One-Act Brings Complex Creativity

“The War Boys” showcases drama, tragedy and conflictPhilip SykesTHE SANTA CLARAOctober 24, 2013“What happens when something as seemingly innocent as a game goes too far?” Senior and director Camille Hayes sought to answer this question in “The War Boys,” part of the Theatre and Dance Department’s One-Act Play Festival. Written by Naomi Wallace, the 80-minute show is a presentation of the devastating consequences of the internalization of violence, racism and sexism. The intriguing story follows three men, Greg, David and George, played by Nick Manfredi, Gavin Müeller and Mick Medál, repectively. “They play a game in which they seize and capture immigrants attempting to cross the border between Mexico and the United States,” said Hayes. Throughout the show, each offers testimony to the traumatic life that has led them to their position within the game. Each story becomes a performance, one in which they must play the role they have come to know too well. “The boys are forced to confront what they fear the most: their authentic selves,” said Hayes. Through a weaving of toxicity and tragedy, Wallace and the actors portray a game whose content “is as far from child’s play as one could possibly imagine.”Müeller believes the value of the show was within its complexity. “(The goal was) to show what we as human beings use to justify our actions,” he said. “That is what lies at the center of ‘The War Boys.’”The depth of the characters and plot brought out complicated questions for both the actors and the audience. “Very few people choose to consciously be evil,” said Müeller. “We act under our own assumptions of what is right. The difficulty is being self-aware enough to realize that.”Those who had the chance to catch the show saw the powerful presentation of the dark side of humanity and self-actualization. “I agreed to do the show for two reasons,” said Müeller. “I was enamored with Wallace’s writing, and I felt it was a great opportunity to show people something they likely have never experienced before.” If you didn’t get to see “The War Boys,” but are interested in the next Theatre and Dance performance, be sure to catch the next sequence of the One-Act Play Festival this weekend at 2 p.m. at the Fess Parker Studio Theatre. Tickets are available at SCU Presents online or at the box office before the show. Contact Philip Sykes at psykes@scu.edu.