2008 Woodie Awards
Vote Absentee
'Stuff Happens' at URI Fine Arts Center
Jenna Berube
Issue date: 10/12/07 Section: News
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David Hare wrote "Stuff Happens" a year after the conquest of Baghdad. Last night, University of Rhode Island students brought this political play to life in the URI Fine Arts Center.
The play sheds light upon topics such as the search for nuclear weapons in Iraq, and also mentions ideas of people in the president's cabinet.
This play also gives viewers insight into the events leading up to the war in Iraq.
With characters such as Powell, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and President George W. Bush, the play has a serious tone. The play is about the events leading up to the war in Iraq and introduces the audience to the way Bush lead the United States.
"Stuff Happens" begins very early, April 25, 1975 and it is here where the main characters are introduced. The play presents ideas such as President Bush's inability to produce a complete and coherent sentence and Blair's frustration with some decisions of the United States.
The play also allowed the audience to hear different views from prominent figures such as Powell, and showed Hare's mounting anger with former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. At one point, Powell said, "Rumsfeld has cut off my legs!"
The play does occasionally leave its serious tone, however, and at one point the United Nations does a square dance about mushroom clouds. The tone, although sometimes funny, remains mainly serious and works to teach viewers about what really went on behind the closed doors of the oval office.
The play uses real news footage of both stills of 9/11 and recorded press conferences in the background. Bush's humor keeps viewer's attention while Blair keeps the main priorities and themes of the play in focus.
The play also demonstrates the roles of countries like England and how their cooperation aided the United States in the fight against terrorism.
The intense decision making process of both the British as well as the Americans becomes clear to viewers as the play goes on.
Immediately after the Oct. 14 performance, there will be a MatChat, a discussion regarding issues on the war in Iraq. The discussion will involve actors as well as URI faculty, directors and set designers.
There will also be another chat after the Oct. 18 performance. This time, the chat will feature the URI College Republicans and College Democrats to discuss the events with the audience.
"Stuff Happens" will be playing in the URI Fine Arts Center in Studio J on Oct. 11 to 13 and Oct. 18 to 20 at 7:30p.m. It's also playing on Oct. 14 and 21 at 3p.m. Tickets are sold at the Box Office in the Fine Arts Center and are $14 for the general public, $10 for seniors, faculty and staff, and $8 for students.