Scene4 Magazine | letters to the editor

My memory was jolted by Andrea Kapaski's "conversation" wtih Joan Littlewood. I was immediately reminded of a 1968 production of "Oh What A Lovely War" that I staged as a visiting guest director at Kalamazoo College in Michigan. Both professionals and students were involved. What I remember most, aside from the excitement and impact of the production, was the Marine Colonel who showed up at the ticket window. A student refused to sell him a ticket. When I heard about it, I offered the Colonel a freebee on the house; my seat, to be exact. During the break, and after the production, we had a straight forward discussion without rancor. He was understanding about the anti-war message of the play, its bitter irony and humor, and in many ways felt challenged by it. But he took his responsibilities for the men under his command at heart, and felt an allegiance to the ostensible purpose of the war (to free the Vietnamese people from "Communism"). An allegiance that compelled him to go back for a second tour. I disagreed strongly with him, yet admired the fact that he walked into the charged atmosphere of the theatre in full military dress, and that he was steadfast in his responsibilities. I invited him backstage to talk to the performers. That was done out of respect, not as a setup. The performers were stunned. Some treated him with curiosity and good will, others refused to talk to him at all; as if he was the enemy. I reminded the cast that "Oh What a Lovely War" was about the waste of the lives of the soldiers who died on all sides of the First World War, because of the pride, stupidity, arrogance, vicious territorial ambitions, and blind nationalism of the leaders and generals who sent them there. People who had no regrets about what they were doing, no matter how many soldiers or innocents were killed. I also said that the Colonel was not one of them. When the Marine colonel spoke to the performers without apology, and once again emphasized his allegiance to the men under his command, some performers booed, others quietly talked to him, or shook his hand, and a few were in tears. When the Colonel and I parted we shook hands - as friends; distant friends, but friends nontheless. Today some of our military leaders are openly against the War in Iraq. And that amounts to a major change in military thinking and behavior. It is something that needs to be encouraged in order to make those who started the war accountable. There is no such thing as a “decent” hanging, or a “good” war. Killing produces more killing and murder is the name of the game, no matter how well taken the justifications and rationalizations for revenge. In the long run, to fight a holy war for democracy in the name of Oil, Money and Consumerism, is no different from fighting the Holy War for Allah. It amounts to the same thing: death and blood shed for all concerned whatever cloak you use to cover it up. The last resort for war is Peace. The peace of the dead and the restless peace of those who suffer through it.
Ned Bobkoff
read Andrea Kapsaski's article