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'Arte of War' kills

October 15, 2009 11:33 AM TODD WALLINGER THE GAZETTE In “The Arte of War,” Theatre ’d Art offers a trio of plays which may be some of the most provocative works ever produced in this city. “Seven Jewish Children” is a short play by Caryl Churchill. In this rhythmic, almost hypnotic piece, several sets of Israeli parents argue over what to tell their children about their nation’s recent history. The events themselves are never mentioned, however, and stripped of their context, the simple imperative sentences take on chilling significance. Joseph Heller is most famous for his novel “Catch-22,” which used absurdist humor to lampoon the insanity of war. He used the same technique in his brilliantly incisive play, “We Bombed in New Haven,” about soldiers being sent on a bombing mission. The twist is that the actors frequently break out of character, addressing the audience and each other with full knowledge that they’re performing a play. It’s extremely funny, but also toys with the idea that actors and soldiers are very similar: Both are expected to play their assigned roles. What would happen if an actor — or soldier — refused? And the final scene is simply devastating. The entire cast was good, the only weakness a slight lack of confidence in some. One to watch is rubber-faced Jordan Mathews, who was hilarious as a dimwitted private. The trio concludes with “A War Prayer,” the dramatization of a story by Mark Twain so caustic it remained unpublished until after his death. In it, a preacher leads his congregation in an impassioned prayer for the safety of their nation’s troops. When he finishes, an angelic visitor arrives to deliver the unstated part of the prayer, the part that asks for the bloody annihilation of their enemies. It’s been said that war is hell. These challenging works prove that our response to war can have equally hellish consequences. GRADE: A- “The Arte of War” by Theatre ‘d Art When: 8 p.m. Fridays-Sundays through Oct. 25 Where: Osborne Studio Theatre, UCCS, 3955 Cragwood Drive Tickets: $5-$10/free UCCS students; 357-8321. See archived 'Entertainment' stories »