The Guys

The Guys
a kate west reflection
written by Anne Nelson
directed by Jim Simpson




[Movie poster starring Anthony LaPaglia & Sigourney Weaver]

"The Guys" is both a 2002 stage play and a Hollywood film, both written by Anne Nelson, a journalist hoping to corral September 11 memories and emotions into a fitting eulogy for fallen firefighters. She succeeds in creating a moving story while honoring eight firemen who died on September 11. The film version may be a tad more staged than the play version, interestingly enough, but both are emotionally involving and properly dignified.

New York Fire Captain Nick asks Nelson to help him write eulogies for his fallen men and as a journalist, Nelson feels it appropriate to interview the Fire House. But it turns into more than that and becomes a statement for Manhattan itself, in depicting how everyone in the city learns to cope with the tragedy. That's when she decides to try her hand at playwriting and good thing too. She writes a quiet, but profound piece of contemplation, sensitively portraying the real life rawness of a cataclysmic event that affected us all. And it doesn't hurt to land excellent actors to help it along (Anthony LaPaglia, Sigourney Weaver in the film and Weaver and Bill Murray in the first version on stage and later Susan Sarandon with LaPaglia). There are some slow parts here and there, but the sentiment is real and definitely appreciated.

God Bless America, Broadway and Hollywood.


FILM
Cast: Anthony LaPaglia and Sigourney Weaver

NEW YORK PRODUCTIONS
Cast: Bill Murray and Sigourney Weaver
"A Gala Evening" fundraiser January 14, 2002, at 7:00 p.m.
at the New Victory Theater 42nd Street and Seventh Avenue, New York
Flea Box Office 212-226-2407

Cast: Anthony LaPaglia and Susan Sarandon
Sets and Lights: Kyle Chepulis
Costume Design: Claudia Brown
at Flea Theater, 41 White Street, New York
contact 212-206-1515 or www.theflea.org.
2/21/02-3/14/02 (La Paglia through March 5th only; Bill Irwin on March 7th)
Mon-Thurs @ 7pm; $55; limited $15 tickets for Firefighters & Port Authority workers
$25 rush tickets sold same day (wait list based on availability)
Last New York performance 12/31/02

"Nick and I weren't supposed to meet. You couldn't create another sequence for his life that leads to me. Or for my life that leads to him. After September 11th, all over the city, people jumped tracks." - Anne Nelson

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