Theater to present ?My Father?s War?

This quite different play has a tiny cast. However, ?My Father?s War? delivers a huge story, highly human and often laughable.

According to a press release from the Washington Community Theater, the play was developed by Martha Smith Johnson of Mount Pleasant and is based on her father?s wartime letters to his then fiancée, Alma Louise Mason (Martha?s mother). The Mount Pleasant Community Theatre and The Players? Workshop in Burlington have performed the play, so Washington?s production is the third time the show will be presented.

Only two actors, Ben Stanton and Aaron Williamson, who support each other, carry this production off superbly. Stanton has a strong, network voice that is believable and understandable while filling the theater. He describes how General Patton leads the Third U.S. Army (perhaps 30,000 soldiers) across Europe while thrashing the vast and tough German Wehrmacht.

The second actor, Aaron Williamson, plays 1st Lt. Charles W. Smith, who was in General Patton?s Third Army (perhaps 30,000 soldiers). The army crossed Europe while thrashing the vast, tough German Wehrmacht (Army). His letters are at times grim, odd, risqué, or just plain funny, which he reads superbly. The audience will eventually know whether the lieutenant survived Patton?s fight and/or managed to get back to Alma Louise Mason.

The audience will get a jolt from the hard-working rear screen. Johnson included many, many slides, which mixed in informative, surprising and unusual or just plain grim shots of the World War II years. Happily, there are a few slightly cheesy slides as well.

Director Sally Hart clearly knows what she is doing. It?s a strong, attractive, yet compact set. The actors look right at home on the set, and move gracefully and timely to right where you would like to see them.

Incidentally, it will be worth the admission to hear the National Anthem sung by the rich, hefty and lilting voice of Will Hart. Few will have seen or heard such a performer before. The audience will certainly applaud heartily the performance.

?My Father?s War? is a two-act play. The acts will be divided by a 20-minute intermission where theatergoers may enjoy the lobby displays courtesy of Washington?s F Troop Military Museum, the Eastern Iowa Honor Flight, and the Washington County Veterans Affairs Commission.

The performances will be held at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16, and Saturday, Oct. 17, and on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. at the Washington Community Theater. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Eastern Iowa Honor Flight.