Playing prisoner

Experimental Theatre's production of "Two rooms" brings Middle East hostage situation to Fresno State

By Tim Sturtridge

The gritty realities of Middle Eastern conflict are coming to Fresno State this weekend. The struggle and strife involved with the war torn area is portrayed in the play, “Two Rooms.”

“Two Rooms” is a historical snapshot of the war and upheaval that dominate the Middle East. Fresno State’s student Experimental Theatre Company is putting on the play.

The stage show, by American playwright Lee Blessing, concentrates on the theme of personal loss that comes with large-scale political and military conflict.

The two rooms featured in the play are a windowless prison cell in Beirut, Lebanon and a home office in America. Inside the rooms, the audience sees the separate struggles of the two main protagonists.

Blessing’s writing ability earned him a Tony Award nomination for his 1988 play, “A Walk in the Woods.”

The New York Times wrote that Blessing’s “eye is penetrating,” and that he “reaffirms his authority with timely political questions.”

The poignant subject matter of “Two Rooms” exposes American foreign policy in the Middle East during the 1980s.

The play has contemporary relevance in dealing with conflict in the Middle East and the taking of innocent hostages by political terrorists.

Directed by Fresno State student Josh Feemster, the play focuses on two central characters. Blake Ellis plays an American college professor at the University of America in Beirut who gets taken hostage. Ellis said his character gets imprisoned by Shiite Muslim fundamentalists.

Melissa Riordan, who plays Ellis’ wife, gets extremely distressed when she receives the news and seeks assistance from both the state department and the press.

“ I deal with the press and the government,” Riordan said, “The government doesn’t want me to talk to the press, but they don’t give me any information. The reporter is just out to make a name for himself, so it is a very difficult situation.”

Once the professor’s wife starts getting help, she begins to discover hidden agendas in place that prevent her from getting her husband home safely. Riordan’s character is talked into speaking out against the government, which triggers a series of events, resulting in the plays startling conclusion.

Fresno State’s Experimental Theatre Company involves students at every level of theater production. The students feel they get a lot out of working with this company as they are independent of faculty.

“ This project is really unique,” Ellis said. “Students design and build the sets, we do all the marketing, as well as direct and act in the play.”

“ Two Rooms” will be running over this weekend in the lab school theater. Performances will be today at 4 pm, Saturday at 2 and 8 pm, and Sunday at 2 pm. Entrance to the show is $4.

For more information, call the theater Box Office at 278-2216.