‘Grounded’ at Company of Fools
BY YANNA LANTZ
Company of Fools (COF) will present the riveting drama “Grounded” by award-winning playwright George Brant Sept. 28 through Oct. 13 at the Liberty Theatre in Hailey. Heartbreaking and beautiful, the play follows an ace fighter pilot whose career in the sky takes an unexpected turn due to pregnancy.
“Brant started writing this piece when he found out that Obama had used exceedingly more drone strikes in a much shorter time than Bush in his presidency,” explained director John Glenn. “The technology of war was moving forward and he was fascinated by it. This play is rich and rife with humanity. It’s about being a human, connecting, feeling disconnected, being a parent, being a spouse and serving.”
“Grounded” explores the strength and fragility of the mind and psyche. Relocated to operate military drones from a windowless trailer outside Las Vegas, the pilot uses drones to hunt terrorists by day and then drives home to her family each night.
“She works 12 hours a day, seven days a week, protecting servicemen and women, making strikes and following targets, and then drives home to make dinner for her 3-year-old child and her husband who works at a casino,” Glenn expounded. “How do you reconcile those two worlds?”
Hanna Cheek will return to COF to play The Pilot. Named one of Time Out New York’s “Future Legends of NYC Theatre” in 2013, Cheek has previously been seen at COF in “Proof,” “Other Desert Cities” and “Commencement.”
Cheek describes The Pilot as a very sensitive, feeling mother and who is relatable, “but she is also fierce, complex,” and committed to a fault.
“There are a lot of hot-button issues in this play, but it is not a morality play,” Cheek explained. “The playwright never says drones are bad or drones are great – that’s not what it’s about. It’s not a black or white issue – it’s grey. If there is a hot-button issue in the piece, it’s that our soldiers in all areas of the military need more mental support. We are all humans and we are all vulnerable when faced with that damage.”
This will be the first production Company of Fools has done in the round, with audience completely surrounding the playing area. Seating is limited to 60 patrons per performance.
“Putting the audience in the round inherently brings intimacy and immediacy,” Glenn said. “We wanted to put this play in a situation where you can’t escape.”
A major scenic element of COF’s production will be a new piece by Pakistani visual artist Mahwish Chishty. Chishty has designed a large Reaper drone that will hang over the playing area. The creative team for “Grounded” also includes Joe Lavigne (set design), Russell Simone Wilson (music design) and K.O. Ogilvie (stage manager).
Tickets for “Grounded” are $35 for full price, $25 for seniors and members of The Center, and $15 for students (18 and under). Tickets may be purchased online at www.sunvalleycenter.org, by phone at (208) 578-9122 or at the Liberty Theatre box office starting one hour before curtain. Company of Fools’ box office is located at the Liberty Theatre, 110 N. Main Street in Hailey.