"Bomb/Shell" opens with a bang at Playwrights Project

The night started with two mimes huddled under blankets, asleep on stage, who were suddenly awoken by the deafening sound of a bomb detonating and war footage playing on the production screen.

This was the start of the Bloomington Playwrights Project’s new series of all-original plays titled “Bomb/Shell,” which features eight plays, each lasting no longer than ten minutes and drawing from the theme “Making War Making Peace.”

Playwrights put their own spin on the topic of war and peace with diverse play themes, such as an alien takeover of the popular students at a school, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and a water balloon fight.

At the beginning of the show, audience members Chris and Allie Kocsis said they were most looking forward to “seeing the diversity of the reactions of the different award-winning playwrights.”

Among the guest writers were Academy Award Nominee Jesse Eisenberg, Jeff Daniels and three-time Writers Guild Award Winner Tami Sagher.

Junior Amanda Casey attended the sold-out show with her parents, who were in town for Parents Weekend.

“I really like it so far,” Casey said. “I’ve never been here before, so I thought I’d come and check it out. It’s awesome.”  

Casey said her favorite parts were the mimes between each skit.

“I like how they kind of add some comedic relief to the subject of war,” she said.

Maureen Priog also attended the production and said she was hoping for “a few laughs after a very long week.”

Both Priog and the Kocsises said they left the theater happy.

“Bomb/Shell” will run Sept. 30 to Oct. 15. Tickets are $18 for general admission and $15 for students with valid student IDs.

For more information, visit www.newplays.org.