A Disappointing Voyage: When We Go Upon The Sea

Lee Blessing is a playwright best known for his work, A Walk In the Woods which was a view of the US and USSR arm negotiations and reasons behind the complex diplomatic dance. It was thoughtful and nuanced and set the bar high for his future work. Mr. Blessing’s new work, having its New York Premiere at the 59E59 Theater, is When We Go Upon The Sea and Mr. Blessing once again deals with political power. This play imagines George W Bush on the eve of a war crimes trial in The Hague. Unfortunately, When We Go is less concerned with looking at George Bush’s actions, policies and motivations and more interested in caricaturing both the ex-President and sycophantic Europeans as buffoons and delusional.

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Given the limitations of the piece, Conan McCarty does a great job of portraying George Bush. Mr. McCarty’s George W Bush is bitter and confused, yet never pathetic. When given more to do that act perplexed, Mr. McCarty gives a complex portrayal.

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Peter Schmitz plays Piet the Dutch butler determined to provide the ex-President with any entertainment and relaxation the night before the trail begins. Mr. Schmitz gives a well restrained performance. The entire show takes a mean spirited twist when the ex-President starts drinking, drugging and vacillating between self-pity and anger in his discussions with Piet.

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Kim Carson plays Anna-Louis, a stunning female “relaxation specialist”, which ex-president Bush is offered, no strings attached. The motivations of both Piet and Anna-Louise remain murky throughout, despite attempts at explanation to the audience and the ex-President. Piet seems motivated by fear by the end of the play, while Anna-Louise actions are not in sync with her motivations.

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These three characters become more and more friendly as the evening progresses and the intoxicants flow. In the course of the evening the butler and ex-President Bush discuss European and American place in the wilds of the world. Here the audience expects, and is waiting for, a serious reflection on the actions of George Bush. Instead we get superficial ramblings from a bitter, drunk Nixonian reproduction, and the justifications of a frightened colonial apologist. There is no exchange of ideas or even serious attempt to understand what occurred during the Iraq war, and this undercuts the play. When We Go Upon The Sea veers into mean spirited wish fulfillment by mocking George W Bush instead of investigating why or what he did. It is a cathartic journey, but not particularly pleasant to anyone involved.

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The show is extremely well directed by Paul Meshejian. He uses a nicely stuffed stage (scenic design by Meghan Jones) provides a claustrophobic cage in which the actors cannot escape or fully banish their demons. When We Go Upon The Sea isn’t a bad show, but just out of reach lies a truly great show.

(tickets)

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WHEN WE GO UPON THE SEA

The 59e59 Theatre, June 10 – July 3, 2010

Cast list: Conan McCarty, Peter Schmitz, Kim Carson

Director: Paul Meshejian

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Rating: If it sounds interesting

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What works: Some of the political discussions of colonization

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What doesn't work: Exploiting the foibles of President Bush

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What you get to brag about to your friends: It Lee Blessing! The guy is amazing.