As Far As We Know

Description
***** [FIVE STARS] Inspired by the true story of Keith Maupin, the only soldier designated as "captured" in Iraq--he has been missing since a Baghdad ambush in 2004--"As Far as We Know" is a standout Fringe production. Written by Laurie Sales and the Torture Project Ensemble, the play opens unpromisingly, with a somewhat kitschy yellow-ribbon-tying scene. But what follows is a series of revealing and heart-tugging moments, both public and personal: an intimate Christmas holiday interrupted by news of the family’s worst nightmare, funny flashbacks to the soldier’s needling romps with his twin sister, reenactments of the parents’ interactions with military officials and the way their story ultimately fades from the headlines. Cordis Heard, who stepped into her role as the soldier’s distraught and adrift mother only one day before the performance I attended, offered a portrayal earnest and engaging enough to make me forget about the script she carried in her hands. Her onstage husband, played by Alex Cherington, speaks volumes through his body language alone. And as Capt. Patricia Evans, the family’s military liaison, Sara Bakker shines: Her transformation from coldhearted official to tender, helpless bystander is as real as it gets. The play succeeds surprisingly well in telling its story honestly, without cajoling the audience. Swiftly and creatively staged, this two-hour topical drama not only entertains but also provokes thought and postshow conversation. What better compliment than this: "As Far as We Know" flies by in the theater, and then sticks with you later.—Dawn Roode, TONY Kids Contributing Editor