FATHER  COMES  HOME  FROM  THE  WAR   
                        at the Public Theater

(Seen November, 2014)


Suzan-Lori Parker's latest play at her home base,  the Public Theater,  suffers from her conceit of the work as a Greek tragedy. The characters sport classic Greek names, and the chorus of illiterate slaves spout words of wisdom, mostly to the audience.

Despite the fine cast, with true ensemble spirit, the show comes cross as precious rather than meaningful.

Presented in three "parts" of a projected nine cycle work, only the middle part presents real dramatic conflict.  Hero, our protagonist, is faced with a choice  of freedom versus loyalty to his abusive 'master'.   With a hint of free will, he frees the Yankee prisoner in his charge, but follows his 'master' into battle.

A turn of events in Part 3 sets things in motion in anticipation of the next segments of the would-be epic work.

Director Jo Bonney  often has the characters turn and talk to the audience in the middle of a speech between two actors, which detracts from any dramatic interplay between the characters.  A worthy undertaking which doesn't achieve its' expected goals.