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The Riot Group examines war in ‘Pugilist Specialist’

BY SUNNY COWELL

In print | September 20, 2007

On Friday and Saturday, Sept. 14 and 15, The Riot Group performed “Pugilist Specialist,” a play by Adriano Shaplin. In the play, four well-trained United States soldiers are ordered to assassinate a Middle Eastern leader. This thought-provoking play addresses issues ranging from the mishandling of modern political assassinations to the controversy surrounding race and gender integration within the U.S. military. The play features Lieutenant Stein played by Stephanie Viola, Lt. Studdard (Drew Friedman), Lt. Freud (Adriano Shaplin) and Colonel Johns (Paul Schnabel).

The first scene opens with the four characters sitting on two benches on a dark stage with the spotlight focused on Lt. Stein, the outspoken feminist. Stein expresses her loneliness as one of very few women in the military and on the mission. Stein says, “Punctuality is my feminism,” to express how her habit of arriving early is a way to exercise some form of control and to prove her abilities as the only female on the military mission. Lt. Studdard then joins Stein on the bench. At first, the two engage in an awkward conversation with many pauses, but they go on to discuss gender, racial integration and surveillance in the marines. They are joined by the blunt and humorous Lt. Freud who adds witty comments.

Next, Colonel Johns informs the soldiers that they must interpret documents and execute their target, including a 16-hour flight in the desert, in only 12 hours. Meanwhile, subtle sounds of piano music portray the anxiety associated with the task the soldiers face. Electronic sounds of chaos signal the scene change to the mess hall, where the soldiers talk about topics ranging from the sustenance of hot dogs, seduction and the evaporation of their enemies.

Lt. Stine becomes emotionally invested in the political and social conflicts associated with their mission. As a result, the Colonel worries about her loyalty. He makes the statement, “I’d rather be alive and ignorant than be dead and sensitive to the fact,” a possible jab at how the U.S. military justifies carrying out assassinations and other dangerous missions. The scene proceeds to show the soldiers receiving offensive yet comical letters from schoolchildren addressing the soldiers as “heroes.” Freud begins to question the team’s purpose in Palestine and in a memorable line, says, “Babies should fight wars because they are cold-blooded and fearless.” This scene raises the question of the cost of war and the meaning of wars for humankind. Lt. Stein endures offensive sexist language and threatens to quit from the pressure of adhering to unrealistic standards as the only woman in the Marines. Colonel Johns persuades her to stay by giving her the position of control but at the end of the play, Lt. Stein is killed on the mission. The play solemnly ends with recorded breathing noises and replicated voices from military audio software. “Pugilist Specialist” gives an insider’s view of the difficult situations and emotions soldiers face daily. The play encourages the audience to think about issues in the military, mainly the purpose of war and the impact of sex and race integration.

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