Play portrays 1980s conflict in Beirut
HOUGHTON -- Lainie Wells spends most of her days alone in an empty room trying to connect with her husband--an American hostage being held by Arab terrorists in Beirut.
The story is set in the 1980s, but it feels all too familiar in light of current international conflicts.
"It’s amazing how relevant it is even today,” says Dani Sweet, who plays Lainie. “It's a perspective that most people will never have in their lives. That's what makes it very interesting for someone who's never experienced that or never will, to come and see someone else's point of view."
Lainie's only visitors are an emotionally vacant state official and a compassionate, but sometimes pushy, reporter.
Whether intentional or not, the two play tug-of-war with Lainie’s mind.
"My character doesn't want Lainie to go public and cause problems,” says Elizabeth LaRouche who plays a State department representative. “She believes she's doing 100 percent the right thing, but some of the time she is and some of the time she isn't."
The State continues trying to convince Lainie that it's best for everyone if she suffers in silence. At the same time, the reporter says Lainie needs to remind everyone of her pain and realize the government is putting their agenda before the safety of her husband.
As the months go on, Lainie struggles before finally making an irreversible decision.
"People who see this play will go away with a kind of understanding about their lives and the lives of people who live in difficult situations and survive."
If you want to see Two Rooms, there are three more performances this Thursday, Friday and Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. in the McArdle Theatre.
Tickets cost $10 for the general public and $5 for children 18 and under.
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