'Scope' entertains while addressing relevant social issues

By Stevie Stewart

January 30, 2007 | Writers and masterminds of Scope, a recently debuted and mind-stimulating play, are excited about the play's opening and are looking forward to the upcoming nights of performances.

Scope is an original production of the Fusion Theatre Project and was created by drama students and faculty. Shawn Fisher, a USU theater professor, originally created the idea for the play, but said Jeremy Gordon, a graduate student in communication, has done much of the work of putting it onstage.

The play is the story of a U.S. Army sniper who shot an "enemy soldier" in Iraq. The sniper later meets the wounded soldier in a hospital, and although the sniper was trained to perceive the enemy as less than human, he feels compelled to help make his victim comfortable in the hospital.

Scope is an entertaining evening looking at a slice of war, a humanity story that approaches Iraq from many different angles, Gordon said.

Fisher said the turnout has been very positive and was about what he had expected.

"We had about 50 to 60 patrons on opening night, many of whom joined us afterwards for a wonderful opening-night party," Fisher said.

Fisher said he believes the numbers will increase this week, as many pleased audience members have said they will return and bring friends and family.

Scope is preceded by The News: August 4, 2005 and Insurgency, two one-act plays about Iraq.

The News: August 4, 2005 was written by Fisher and focuses on six people responding to one day's news. Insurgency was written by Gordon and another USU actor and student, Chris Martin, and is about the rhetoric associated with the enemy and how we distinguish past from present. Insurgency compares Iraqi Insurgents to U.S. Revolutionary War "rebels" and focuses on how labels affect the way we perceive the enemy. Gordon said he thinks both short plays have been viewed by audiences as interesting lenses to see through.

"They are both only a few minutes long and make a great beginning to the larger evening," Fisher said.

Fisher said the purpose of the production isn't to try to convince the audience of any one particular point of view.

"Our company is made up of a group of 18 very opinionated people from diverse backgrounds. At the start we decided that this piece would raise questions and not try to make our audience think a certain way." said Fisher.

Fisher said the cast has been outstanding. He said he has seen several of the cast members in other plays in the past and thinks this is the best work they have done.

"I couldn't be more impressed," Fisher said. "They have really raised their personal bars."

Fisher said Scope is an entertaining and fun way to see professional quality theatre that addresses issues that have social relevance.

"We hope that people out there might also want to join us for theatre that challenges us to think about new things. The Iraq War has a major effect on the world, on our country and on our neighborhoods. We hope to bring some of that to life with this evening of plays," Fisher said.

He also said, though it may be a serious subject, the plays contain quite a few laughs as well.

Back in October, Fisher said he and cast members were considering traveling nationally with the play. Today, hopes are equally as high.

"Once this run here in Utah ends, we will start to plan our next step," Fisher said. "If we can generate enough support to get us out there for about two weeks, we will mount a production at the Gene Frankel Theatre, Off-Broadway in Greenwich Village."

Fisher said members of the productions are also looking at traveling closer to home, perhaps Portland, California and Salt Lake City.

"I am pleased at the turnout for the first weekend," Gordon said. "Ideally, I would love to see the houses double this week, as we want to reach as many people as possible with this message. Not to mention, the activity is for a good cause, The Children of Fallen Soldier's Relief Fund."

Tickets are available at the Caine Lyric Theatre for a minimum donation of $5, a portion of which goes to the fund benefiting children who have lost parents in the War on Terror. Part of the money generated will also go to the Fusion Theatre Project to help support other productions, Fisher explained.

"I hope people will donate, keeping in mind that no one whatsoever profits from this. This project is made up of professionals and students and is purely volunteer."

The play continues this week at the Caine Lyric Theatre. Actors will take the stage Jan. 31 through Feb. 4 at 7:30 p.m. A discussion of the play will follow the production each night. Fisher said the discussion of the opening nights were very insightful and encourages audience members to join producers, writer, directors and actors after the production each night.

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