American Joe, a Funny and Moving Play about Soldiers at War
The Marsh San Francisco Mainstage Theater (1062 Valencia St. San Francisco, CA 94110)
- Full Price:
- $15.00 - $22.00
- Our Price:
- $7.50 - $11.00*
* Additional fees apply.
All offers for American Joe have expired.
The last date listed for American Joe was Friday August 15, 2008 / 8:00pm.
Currently at The Marsh San Francisco Mainstage Theater:
Brian Copeland's New Solo Show The Waiting Period at The Marsh
- Full Price:
- $25.00
- Our Price:
- $12.50
The Marsh presents a workshop performance of Brian Copeland's new solo show, The Waiting Period. Copeland, a multi-talented actor, playwright, author and talk show host, has basked in the glow of both public and critical acclaim for nearly a decade. However, like many other well-known figures, he suffers from debilitating bouts of depression. This show gives an unrelenting look at a ten-day period in his life: the mandatory waiting period before he could lay hands on a new gun with which he planned to commit suicide. Even in the throes of such tragic plans, though, his sense of humor does not desert him (how much should he spend on the gun?), and in fact protects him from the grim reality of his intention. There is laughter in the darkness. Interspersed with interviews with other people suffering from depression, the play also offers outsiders an insider's view, thereby expanding the audience's understanding and, hopefully, humanity. Learn More
6 Goldstar Member Reviews
Ken in Kensington
At times the performance is histrionic, over the top, thus undermining its impact.Written on Jul 29 2008
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Bill Selby
Lets cut to the chase: this is a terrific and IMPORTANT show and has my highest recommendation. This performer's talent and energy engage from the first minute, and never let go.Written on Aug 04 2008
American Joe explores brother-sister dynamics from childhood through adulthood, from simple sibling rivalry, to decisions of life and death. It’s a mature, unflinching, personal look by a performer who’s not afraid to expose honest, sometimes unflattering sides of both herself and her brother, the titular American “Joe” of the piece.
The love and compassion Liza feels for Joe is gradually replaced by impotent anger, by the dawning horror that her brother’s hell-bent on placing himself in harm’s way by enlisting in the military so he can see some action and fight for “American ideals”. Her liberal politics and his hawkish nature are bound to generate conflict and verbal fireworks, especially when played out against the template of war.
There’s a stream-of-consciousness, surreal, almost nightmarish quality to the piece at times, presenting situations that have no easy answers. Liza’s love for her brother is the creative engine that fuels the show, and her powerlessness is palpable and gut-wrenching. Love and respect often make uneasy partners.
The show’s tone slides seamlessly between dramatic, funny and heart-stoppingly poignant. Considering the low budget nature of solo theater, David Ford’s direction is wildly inventive and original, especially the use of projected photographs upon a single white sheet. The sound and lighting are spot-on, too.
American Joe is a work in progress, as Joe shipped out to Afghanistan last month. The ending remains to be written, and hopefully not in Joe’s blood.
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Allen Wagner.
I don't often write negative reviews but feel it needs to be said here. On the positive side the performer was energetic, engaging, and present, and the monologue was properly structured and flowed smoothly; i.e., the technical aspects were OK to good. On the other (negative) side, the content was very disappointing; indeed, I'd say childishly cold-hearted. It starts with a childhood recollection of older-sister versus younger-brother sibling rivalry, and ends with the very same thing. All the way through I felt the sister-performer lacked any compassion or understanding towards her brother; it was all about her, as though she never rose above her sibling rivalry, and remains its victim - notwithstanding her proclaimed love for her brother, love failed to show-up. I wonder how he feels about her selfish (I intend that word) exploitation. My thought was: in 20 or 30 years, she'll likely look back and regret how childishly she treated him, in so public a fashion. I don't recommend it to anyone, except perhaps her psychotherapist.Written on Jul 18 2008
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Goldstar Member
Well done! Enjoyed the show very much. Great performer!Written on Aug 08 2008
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More Information About American Joe
Description
<p>From boot camp to an imminent deployment in Afghanistan, American Joe traces the back-and-forth connection and rejection between brother and sister, soldier and pacifist, warrior and writer. Born to the same liberal Bay Area parents, both Joe and Liza are trying to to exercise their rights: his Second Amendment right to bear arms and her First Amendment right to free speech. But for Liza, her brother’s choice puts her love and loyalty to the test in startling and surreal ways. To celebrate his graduation, she flies to Fort Benning, Georgia to attend his commencement ceremony. While sitting in the audience with all the other proud families (her patriotism, she is certain, already suspect, given her San Francisco roots) she sees something moving in the grass. It is a student and suddenly he throws something. A grenade. One of the graduates has just thrown a grenade. No one in the audience moves. Purple and yellow and white smoke covers the parade grounds. Bradley fighting vehicles zoom in. The song "Bad to the Bone" blares over loud speakers. And then, knees bent and machine guns ready, fifty soldiers of Echo Company 2-58 advance on the audience. And the audience claps and yelps and screams. The audience is cheering as the soldiers are pretending to shoot their families in the stands. Liza is there. She sees it. And she not only has to try to believe it, she has to overcome her fear for herself and for Joe, for the present and the future, and to join in the general merriment.</p>