'Wartime' a tragic comedy at its best

The absurdity of life and the human perception of idealism are at the core of the modern tragicomedy in the theater. One cannot help but laugh at some moments, while at others marvel in horror at the truth that is the human condition.\nT300's theater season opener, "Life During Wartime," written by Chicago-based playwright and actor Keith Reddin, portrays a world consumed by the absurd.\nWith scenes in which character John Calvin professing his philosophy, juxtaposed with very sexual and sensual moments between other characters, Reddin created a world known known to many modern Americans.\nThe play's language and form is very reminiscent of playwrights like David Mamet and Sam Shepard, with a human backbone provided by Reddin, whose real-life experiences are clearly an influence on the show.\nThe plot has Tommy (junior Arian Moayed), a new recruit for an agency that sells home security, learning from seasoned co-workers Heinrich (graduate student Ira Amyx) and Sally (junior Molly Thomas) the trade of selling and making people trust him.\nOn his first sale, Tommy meets Gale Hunter (junior Carol Enoch), who not only buys Tommy's product but also begins a love affair with him while her 16-year-old son Howard (graduate student Tony Garcia) can only wonder why.\nInterspersed with soliloquies from John Calvin (junior Peter Gerharz) the play examines the very relevant theme of living life for the moment rather than for the future, among many others.\nAmyx delivered a very natural performance that made his very unlikable character quite charming at times. He was a man plagued by his own hubris but knew it and used it as an advantage. Amyx made the voice of Heinrich very believable, while also utilizing the full extent of his body.\nMoayed's Tommy progressed nicely from a green, naive kid to a man hardened by the shocking realities and trials of life. His humor and ability to read the situations aided in making Tommy a very likeable character.\nThomas and Enoch, as the show's two women, were also noteworthy for their ability to transcend their ages and show a mature side with ease and even grace.\nFinally, Gerharz and Garcia added much humor, absurdity and backbone to a show that had a firm root planted from the first light cue.\nTechnically, the show was also interesting. The quaint set by graduate student Jason Lambdin created an intimate atmosphere using bland colors to represent the blandness of existence.\nCostumes by senior Beth Laske-Miller were appropriate to the early 1990s setting, yet they also revealed slight nuances about the characters -- for instance, Tommy's suits helped him to look ambitious but not too well dressed. With the exception of John Calvin's costume, which didn't convey the timelessness of his character, all of the costumes served nicely.\nGraduate student Becky Hardy's lighting also created contrasts for the different scenes and helped establish the stark moods in certain scenes and a very warm, inviting atmosphere in others.\nThe T300 space was used well to create a very natural show and showcase a cast of immense talent. Though tickets are hard to come by, "Life During Wartime" is a great evening of theatre.