Review: Walk through ‘Two Rooms’ into political intrigue

Political naifs may blame Bush Sr. or Clinton or W or Obama for the current level of Middle Eastern animosity toward U.S. citizens. Lee Blessing’s astute drama “Two Rooms,” which centers on a hostage situation in Lebanon, relieves of us that notion. This four-person play written in 1988 is as relevant today as when it was first performed, one of those rare pieces of art we wish would not age as well as it has.

Under Thom Tonetti’s deft direction, Three Bone Theatre’s production leads us through a dance of emotions, negotiations and strategic finagling. There are no villains or heroes; each character can be assigned blame and sympathy. The complications of international relationships and the dichotomies of cultural differences are well expounded.

The cast is strong. Jen Altizer plays State Department representative Ellen, a liaison to the hostage’s wife, Lainie (Carmen Bartlett). She’s the first line of communication regarding the prisoner’s status, and she’s charged with making sure Lainie doesn’t violate political protocol in dealings with the press. Joe Rux plays Walker, a journalist who toes the line between wanting an exclusive on the story, having righteous indignation against the United States government and having genuine sympathy for Lainie. Tom LaPorte plays Michael, who was teaching at the University of Beirut when he was taken hostage.

The stage is a perfect setting for the eponymous two rooms. Painted in abstract camouflage, it acts as a spartan prison cell for the hostage and a stripped-down den for Lainie, who by removing all of her husband’s personal effects is able to feel his presence.

The play is presented in a series of short scenes. When Michael is onstage, he is blindfolded and handcuffed. In a continuous oral epistle to his wife, he recounts being captured and talks about what it is like to be moved from place to place. “Their voices are so young!” he says of his captors.

When Lainie is onstage, she is seldom alone. The journalist pressures her to tell her story to the public, trying to convince her the State Department is using her husband as a political tool. Lainie is often visited by Ellen, who understands the tenuous nature of negotiating for hostages but sees Lainie as a loose cannon: A hostile interview to the press could have political repercussions.

The play asks unanswerable questions. What sacrifice is acceptable for the greater good? What responsibility do citizens have when their presence in a hostile country results in a hostage situation? If the government pays ransom, does that lead to more hostage-taking? The play humanizes what we hear in the news every day, providing a digestible microcosm of our current political reality.

This story was originally published November 17, 2015 at 3:46 PM with the headline "Review: Walk through ‘Two Rooms’ into political intrigue."