by Amy Dalness
Daily Lobo
Joe Forrest Sackett said, "Patriotism is a loaded term," because it has a different meaning to everyone.
Sackett explores the term in his play, "Patriots," running at the Tricklock Performance Space.
Sackett worked on "Patriots" for about a year after hearing about the provision in the Patriot Act that allows government officials to view library records and makes it a criminal offense for librarians to tell patrons their records were viewed.
As the project developed, Sackett collaborated with Paul Ford, director of "Patriots," and a part-time acting instructor at UNM.
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"I was excited about the material," Ford said.
They both said the politics of the piece are obvious. Being objectionable was not the goal.
"We were more concerned with the heat of the issue," Ford said.
"Patriots" opens with the entire cast singing "The Star-Spangle Banner" and breaking into a round of "America the Beautiful."
It then shows a citizen interrogated by members of a secret government agency.
The agents accuse the citizen of things but refuse to tell him what he has done wrong, because it's classified.
A number of scenes in the play depict the citizen (Mark Maravetz) and, as Sackett dubbed them, the G-men (J.W. Madison and Nan Burke) and show further intrusion into the citizen's life, including a scene in an airport security check and a cavity search.
Dynamic scenes of the play are farcical depictions of Mr. President (Brian Haney), Vice President Kriegman (Alan Hudson), PR Penny (Peggy Spencer), Sergeant-at-Arms (Jose Nevarez), National Security Maven Muscovite (Mat Edwards) and other contributing members making important political decisions in what appears to be the Oval Office.
Ford took these scenes to their extreme.
"It's a big cartoon," Ford said.
The farce is witty, honest and funny.
Mr. President's exaggerated character included many "Bush-isms" and the costume choice of a progressively enlarging red cowboy hat. Haney did an excellent job of delivering these without stumbling or making them appear awkward in his speech.
One clever metaphor was the use of a "Red Cross solution" to wash their hands clean of the many wars they decide to enter. Mr. President holds the bottle in a holster on his hip waiting to "draw and shoot" anytime they get into a situation that needs cleansing.
Though the play is satirical, it is also quite dramatic. A series of monologues and scenes speak to all Americans, no matter what political party they claim.
One particularly moving monologue was that of Dead Patriot No. 1, UNM student Thierry Milleret. After being killed while on duty, the audience gets a glimpse of the moment right after death. Milleret's performance was powerful and eerie. At the end of the monologue, Milleret is on the floor in fetal position, and the audience was right there with him.
The show also has one monologue from a woman from the occupied country, "Not-so-much-istan," who displays her own patriotism.
"It's a critical piece," Sackett said. "Patriotism depends on your point of view."
Although the play leans toward the left, Ford said he wants people to have their own views.
People should get involved and have a voice - even if it is a voice of dissent, he said.
"Patriots"
Triklock Performance Space
Friday at 8 p.m. Saturday at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. and Sunday at 6 p.m.
Info: 254-8393
Grade: A
