September Days

Dreamwell - At the simplest level, theatre requires a storyteller and an audience. Dreamwell’s recent production of That Day in September has these basic elements and more. Artie Van Why, a survivor of the attacks on the twin towers of the World Trade Center, wrote his story of that day and many days that followed. Although written as a monologue, this production tells Artie’s story not in a single voice but in the voices of eight actors each representing an archetype of the thousands of individuals whose lives were lost or changed forever on that day.

Actors are accustomed to creating a character—it’s what they do. But for eight actors to create a single character and to do so convincingly, consistently, and with real depth is a remarkable achievement. That’s what these eight actors did under Matt Falduto’s thoughtful and assured direction. Together they created a unique ensemble to tell Artie’s compelling story with the immediacy and urgency of one day’s terror and with the reflection of one who must relive those awful hours in order to move past them.

With great economy of style, but with obvious depth of feeling, the company brought That Day in September to vivid life. This production was emotionally moving and intellectually stimulating. The actors, who all deserve gratitude for their fine performances, are: Michael Connell as a teacher; Kris Denniger as an attorney; Chuck Dufano as an office worker; Elisa Elizalde as a police officer; Jeffrey A. Mead as a musician; Ellen Stevenson as a mother; Brandon Tanner as a student; and Brian Tanner as a blue-collar worker.

That day in September, 2001, is one of the days we remember in detail—where were we when we first heard of a plane crashing into one of the twin towers, and then the second plane and the horrific crumbling of the towers. These are part of our collective experience, whatever our individual story. Artie Van Why and That Day in September are now indelibly a part of my memories.

--Gerry Roe