Reviews: Body of an American @ The Gate Theatre

Body of an American

The Gate Theatre, February 1, 2014

            “Snow and Sand” From Somalia to Minnesota, LA to the far north of Canada, the chill in the air reaches the heart as two men disclose and debate their haunting pasts. The title, ‘Body of an American’ comes from a graphic image from war-torn Somalia in 1993 by Paul Watson, a Canadian war photographer. This image of a killed and mutilated American Soldier haunted Paul Watson, while other images of his inspired young playwright, Dan O’Brien. Body of an American tells the story not only of Paul Watson, but the relationship between him and Dan and their exploration of their separate personal hauntings.

            Upon entering The Gate Theatre in Notting Hill, every member of the audience must cover their shoes with a sort of plastic ‘booty’ as the stage is heavily covered in artificial snow. There is a cold, closed in atmosphere to the space, with no set except for two plastic chairs and projection screens on either end of the long stadium-style seating. On these screens, we learn that everything we see and hear has come directly from the mouths of Dan O’Brien and Paul Watson and their conversations with others.

            As a photographer, Paul’s photographs tell a large portion of his story, while memoir-style dialogue by and about Paul fills in the rest. War to war, we follow Paul on his journey, occasionally getting snippets as Dan and Paul start to email back and forth. The images shown are graphic while the stories that accompany them are equally horrific, but William Gaminara delivers them with such simple candor that they almost bypass the brain, touching the heart directly. The small space of The Gate demands truth, and Gaminara delivers, whether being shot at in Somalia or drinking in the vast winter wasteland of the far north in Canada – what I saw before me was simple reality.

            Matching him completely, Damien Molony is shockingly versatile as he plays not only the playwright, Dan O’Brien, but also a Somolian Translator and psychologist just to name a few. I had trouble believing I was watching Molony and not the actual Dan before me, as every word that came from his mouth seemed easy, truthful and experienced. As far as I was concerned this man had gone to Princeton, was disowned by his family and spent a large portion of his life pursuing the man who’s photos touched him so thoroughly.

            In a non-stop, interval-free ninety minutes, Body of an American dissects two men who’s lives have been dictated by moments from their past. We as the audience join these two men through the journey of their lives and their relationship, with the truth shining through the photography and dialogue – this play bypasses the brain and hits the heart straightaway.