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A CurtainUp Review
Eyes of Babylon
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Clean it out, get rid of it! Let nothing but Love remain. You too, America. We stand at a crossroads. The choice? To hold true to the principals for which we say we stand or to go the way of every other military empire in the history of the world. Choose wisely. The eyes of Babylon are upon you. — by playwright Jeff Key at Al Hillah.
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Jeff Keys in Eyes of Babylon
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While Key is a man of traditional American values, his journals reveal a deep poetic sensitivity, humor, terror and fury. Here's an example: "At the time I was making those journal entries, I probably would have told you I was writing mostly so that if I was killed over there, my loved ones could have some idea of what I was going through. Now I know that I was more likely writing to some future version of me . . . My time in Iraq was the most intensely spiritual time of my life. Sometimes, after a sleepless night on duty, I would stare into the rising sun and feel like the secrets of the ages had been whispered to me."
Born and raised in Alabama with firm values of love of God and Country and standing up for your beliefs, the 34-year-old gay man enlisted in the Marines after the Al Qaeda attack on the USS Cole. One year later, after the bombing of the World Trade Center, he is gung-ho to go where he is sent, and do what he must to defend his country and its people.
Key is an observant, persuasive and poignant conversationist. in the delivery of his story. He looks and sounds like a Marine with numerous tattoos including "Warrior" on one arm and "Poet" on the other. He enjoys the Iraqi countryside and its people but wonders about the poverty in an oil-rich country.
Anecdotes include an anticipated Easter dinner that he manages to spill on the floor and feature children —. little boy who touchingly sings to him and another child who gives him a Pepsi in the searing heat and will not accept money. There's also an erotic moment with an Iraqi man that only allows them to touch hands, exchange a few words and a meaningful lip balm.
Proud of those fellow Marines who are kind to the Iraqi people, Kay hates the cruelty of some others, yet he also admits his own dark side, that's capable of violence. When the horrors and tensions of battle become too intense, he plays his music (often Jim Morrison or numbers from Rent ) and daydreams about sitting in Starbucks in West Hollywood ordering a non-fat, triple-shot, soy latte, extra foam. As for his relationship with his fellow marines — it's compatible and many accept his sexuality.
The direction by Yuval Hadadi travels swiftly through different sequences on the appropriately stark set. The lighting and sound effects add to the realism but I would like to have seen some of the many photos Key took or some documentary visual effects to further boost the drama.
As the end of Key's grueling, eye-opening tour approaches, we find him at Al Hillah, the ancient city of Babylon, a city known for its wealthy powerful and suffering poor. That's when his questions abut this war and the elusive peace begin to turn into disillusion. Although he still has an intense love for America and what he once felt it stands for, he wonders if those values he was raised with have morphed into "another Babylon."
Leaving the Marines, ends one part of Key's life with a mature, bittersweet political awareness. It was his disappointments with all he has once valued that lead to a deep depression that led to his resignation, followed by his coming out of the closet on CNN, admitting his homosexuality and his abhorrence of the violence that begets more violence. "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" just didnt work for him anymore. As he puts it ". . . would be fighting for an America that we had the potential to become. But my childish naiveté has ended." Ironically, surviving as a gay man in the turmoil of war made him a better Marine, and a more compassionate and spiritual man.
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Eyes of Babylon Written by Jeff Key Directed by Yuval Hadadi Cast: Jeff Key Stage Manager: Kate Simko Lighting Design: Lee Terry Sound Design: Chris Comfort Propsmaster: Heather Cooper Production Assistant/Wardrobe: Vicky Zhang Producer: Jennilyn Merten Running Time: 90 minutes without intermission Semaphore Projects and the Mehadi Foundations as part of Americas Off Broadway a5 59E59 Theaters: 59 East 59 St. Tickets: $35. $24.50 for members. Ticket Central at (212) 279-4200 or visit www.59e59.org. Performances: Tuesday through Thursday at 7:15 PM; Friday at 8:15 PM; Saturday at 2:15 PM and 8:15 PM; Sunday at 3:15 PM and 7:15 PM. From 06/14/11; opening 06/21/11; closing 07/03/11. Review by Elizabeth Ahlfors based on performance 06/18/11 |
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