In war, the most tragic loss is that of innocence, and especially the innocent. Conversely, the most redeeming element can be the friendship – indeed, the love -- that guys in war have for one another, as shown in James L. Larocca's stark drama of hope and despair, PENANG. The play begins performances on July 14th, during the opening night of the Ninth Annual Midtown InterNational Theatre Festival. Directed by Donya K. Washington and co-produced by Dana Monagan, PENANG will be performed at the WorkShop Theater's MainStage space, located at 312 West 36th Street.
The Mekong Delta, Viet Nam, Fall 1968. Moments before boarding a chopper for home, Navy Lieutenant Timothy Riordan, a man with seemingly everything to live for, inexplicably slashes his wrists, leaving his Executive Officer to find him in a pool of blood. Months later, in the San Diego Naval Hospital, Dr. Leona Kaufman is assigned to his case, after four previous doctors have failed to learn the reason behind Riordan's attempted suicide. As Dr. Kaufman painstakingly forges a fragile connection with the young officer, flashbacks reveal the sudden death back home in California of Riordan's best friend, the senseless death of his closest Navy buddy in a horrible accident on the flight deck, and Riordan's intense relationship with another young officer, Army Reserve Captain G. Richard "Luke" DeLuca, after the two meet on R&R in Penang, Malaysia.
In Penang, Riordan and DeLuca hire a native Malaysian guide, Jimmy Chen, who shows them places both quiet and beautiful, where they begin to remember the men they were before Viet Nam. During their time together, they learn of Chen's painful experiences during World War II and of his gentle faith that helps him live with the anger and loss that war has brought to him. On their last night before returning to Viet Nam, Riordan and DeLuca begin sharing their deepest fears, anguish, pain and hopes for their lives, eventually reaching out in ways neither thought possible. But just when Riordan begins to find renewed hope for the future, another death pushes him over the edge.
As Dr. Kaufman tries to get Riordan to come to terms with what nearly destroyed him, Riordan learns that she has a secret of her own. More than simply a look at the harsh realities of war, PENANG shines a light on the truth every solider knows. In war, it's all about you and your buddies. Everything else is bullshit.
The cast of PENANG features Brett Davidson*, Ben Hersey*, Ingrid Kullberg-Bendz, Gloria Lai, Leigh Walker Montanye*,
Dave Powers and Peter Sabri. The production is an Equity Showcase.
A playwright and director, James L. Larocca directed the premiere presentation of Harry and Eddie: The Birth of Israel at the
John Drew Theater at Guild Hall in East Hampton in the summer of 2007. His play 44 Sunset Park was presented there in 2004, having earlier been staged at
The Players at Gramercy Park in New York City. Also in 2004, he directed
Eli Wallach and
Anne Jackson at Love Letters at Guild Hall and directed the two there again in 2005 in In Persons. Other directing credits include Sacrifice to Eros and A Farewell to Tanya at
The Neighborhood Playhouse. His play PENANG was presented on the
John Drew Stage in 2003 and at
The Players the same year. The work received the 1997 Prize for a new play of Playwrights First, Inc. at
The Players. His one-act, Jimmy Chen, was presented by the Naked Stage in April of 2008. Formerly active in politics,
James LaRocca served in three cabinet posts in New York State, and was a candidate for the Democratic nomination for Governor in 1998.
Donya K. Washington's New York directing credits include 30 Patriot Actors and Menders, both by
Erin Browne (Columbia and Rattlestick Playwrights Theatre, respectively); Live Nude Girls Unite! (All Things At Once), Busoni's Faust and The Jew of Malta (Target Margin Theatre), Squatters' Rights by Alex Brandes (Kate Fahy/Under
St. Marks). Williamstown: Before Breakfast (Workshop), Unwrap Your Candy (Fridays @ 3), Sorry Wrong Number (Workshop).Brown/Trinity Consortium: The Cure At Troy; Taming of the Shrew; Cloud 9; The Referee: A Football Play for Mothers and Daughters. Brown New Play Festival: Forever Never Comes by Enrique Urueta, Cipher by Cory Hinkle.
An actor, director and producer, Dana Monagan was the assistant director to Kathleen O'Neill, as well as music supervisor for BOO-Arts production of The House of Bernarda Alba with
Joy Franz at Manhattan Theatre Source in June 2007. She directs the BOO Arts multicultural reading series and has also directed readings for A Memory, A Monologue, A Rant and A Prayer, and
Alice Childress' The Wedding Band. She has also produced, written and directed for the sketch comedy group Control Chaos.
Running from July 14th-July 20th, PENANG will be presented at the WorkShop Theater, MainStage space, located at 312 West 36th Street (between 8th & 9th Avenues) on the 4th Floor, as part of the Ninth Annual Midtown Inter
National Theatre Festival. The exact show dates and times are Monday, July 14th at 8:30pm, Saturday, July 19th at 2pm, Sunday, July 20th at 3:30pm, Sunday, July 27th at 4:30pm, Thursday, July 31st at 6:30pm and Sunday, August 3rd at 6:30pm. Tickets: $18.00, $15.00 for students and seniors. Reservations: 212-279-4200 or
www.ticketcentral.com. Information:
www.midtownfestival.org.
