Who knew that when poet Naomi Wallace put pen to paper to write the 1994 play “In the Heart of America” it would be so appropriate in the political landscape today, thirteen years later?
“In the Heart of America”, playing at the Knightsbridge Theatre, is a relevant and thought provoking piece of art directed by Jamil Chokachi, who although directed this show, also wears the hat of actor and stage manager for the Knightsbridge Theatre Company, which has put up over three hundred productions since 1993.
Taking place during the time of the Gulf War in the early nineties, we follow Fairouz Saboura, played by Samara Harris, a young “Palestinian Arab-American from Atlanta” as she describes herself in a scene from the first act. Fairouz is on a mission to find out what happened to her army enlisted brother Remzi who the government listed as “missing”- not “missing in action”- but simply “missing” from Iraq. Fairouz’s journey takes her to his best friend, Private Craver Perry played by Geoffrey Hillback, to get answers. What she finds in Perry is a disturbed war veteran, obsessed with talking about war weapons and unable to make sense of his flashbacks. Hillback’s portrayal of an emotionally wounded Gulf veteran is both haunting and disturbing at many levels, as the play moved forward the reasons he is the way he is, unfold.
Set on a stark stage, with only five characters, “In the Heart of America, is brilliantly focused. The actors in this play move seamlessly through present day conversations, flashbacks to the war in both peaceful and chaotic states, childhood memories, dream sequences, an unexpected love story, and Vietnam flashbacks as told through Remzi and Cravy’s Army senior, Lieutenant Boxler, portrayed by the powerful Bruce Cronander. One of Boxler’s Vietnamese victims, Lue Ming, played by Tria Xiong, appears to all the characters at different points in the play and guides them through the journey of living in a post war world without the ones they love. The comparisons between the Gulf War and the Vietnam War are clear and not unnoted. The play uses multi-media resources to reach the audience, video clips, and songs from both eras, which just increase the power 
of the play.
The real stand out performance of the play was from Rafael Kalichstein, who played the affable, sensitive, and intelligent soldier Remzi who wanted to sign up for the military to get a “quiet sense of pride.” Kalichstein’s portrayal of Remzi was perfectly balanced- strong and powerful, yet vulnerable and soft. One could simply not take their eyes off him during his scenes.
Wallace’s commentary on war is not so subtle—Chokachi’s direction is to be commended, without his artful lead, this could have been merely an anti war political statement instead of a great piece of theatre.
“In the Heart of America” is playing at the Knightsbridge Theatre through February 11th. Saturday performances @ 8pm, Sunday at @ 3pm. Running time is 2 hours 20 minutes.
Knightsbridge Theatre is located at 1944 Riverside Drive, Los Angeles. For tickets call 323.667.0955
