Sedition

Based on a true story SEDITION follows an innocent man accused of sedition during the war hysteria of World War I. Passing Veterans Green on my way home from the Westport Country Playhouse last week I was struck by the suddenly ambiguous statue of a World War I doughboy carrying his kit bag helmet and rifle. Somehow he looked burdened rather than glorious more worn-out than brave. Surely the memorial hadnt changed; it was me. I was coming from David Wiltses new play and my head was full of questions about Americas participation in that tragic famously unnecessary conflict. A playwright who rattles the way you see things must be doing something right. In SEDITION Mr Wiltse reaches back to his own family history chronicling his grandfathers World War I run-in with the enforcers of patriotism. Its a compelling story in itself but Mr Wiltse pointedly underlines the parallels between Woodrow Wilsons decision to enter the war against Germany and George W Bushs decision to invade Iraq ... -Sylviane Gold New York Times David Wiltses political drama SEDITION ... is an eloquent incisive and witty play sure to push a theatergoers buttons and trample raw nerves. In the tradition of Ibsens AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE Millers THE CRUCIBLE and Mamets OLEANNA SEDITION is a passionate plea for personal freedom honor and justice. Just as Millers THE CRUCIBLE examines a (then) contemporary injustice - HUACs bullying effort to ruin liberalism through the prism of a bygone travesty the Salem witch hunts of the 1690s - Wiltses use of the past begs the question of the present ... SEDITION is provocative theater filled with complexity and expressiveness. To whichever side one leans it is highly unlikely that the play will leave anyone feeling indifferent. -E Kyle Minor New Haven Register