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| John DiFusco, creator of "Tracers," is chief consultant and advisor for the current production at The Hermosa Beach Playhouse.’ (photo by Alysa Brennan) |
Why present a play in 2008 that was written 28 years ago about a war that was fought in the 1960s and ‘70s?
Civic Light Opera of South Bay Cities (CLOSBC) opens “Tracers” Friday (preview tonight) at the Hermosa Beach Playhouse. The story follows the lives of eight Vietnam War era soldiers from boot camp to the front line. To understand the original intent of the work, how it came to be, and the play’s significance in today’s world, one need only talk to the creator of the project: John DiFusco.
DiFusco feels the stories told by the “grunts” in “Tracers” and the problems faced by Vietnam vets relate directly to situations facing today’s soldiers serving in Iraq. And what they must overcome when they arrive back home.
“There are so many dichotomies when it comes to war,” said DiFusco. “We’ve got a character in the play who was brought up Catholic and was always taught ‘Thou shalt not kill’ – but he gets over there and he’s told ‘but it’s okay to kill those guys.’ And the death lives with you for the rest of your life. Whatever your upbringing, it never goes away.”
The idea of the play began when DiFusco enlisted at age 18. He was first stationed in Texas for 18 months before being sent to Vietnam. After his tour, he was stationed in California and upon discharge started college on the GI Bill, attending Riverside College, CSULB and CSUDH.
“I really didn’t know that such a thing as a theater major existed,” he said. “When I discovered it did, I said, that’s the way I’ll become an actor.”
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| (photo by Alysa Brennan) |
He started working in Los Angeles as an actor and became one of the original members of the Odyssey Theatre Ensemble on Sepulveda in LA. “Back then it was about 25 of us right out of college. I acted in seven or eight shows, dabbled in some directing and writing with a few different groups that were creating plays through the actors, using improvisational methods and that sort of thing,” said DiFusco. “I was very inspired by the open theater, the living theater, all so-called experimental theater.
“I thought, I want to get together a group of guys who were also veterans, so I ran an ad in Drama Logue for actors who were Vietnam vets to participate in a workshop headed toward the creation of a play. About 25 guys turned out; I cast six, got a place to work in an abandoned dining hall on the old VA grounds – right next to the psyche ward, naturally.”
For three months, the group worked from lists of subjects DiFusco created that he wanted to visit, “things I felt hadn’t been covered in the theater or movies.” There were poetry nights; comedy nights in attempts to find humor in a dire situation; and many ongoing rap sessions. “We talked about things we’d never talked about with anyone before. It bordered on theater workshop and a kind of therapy,” he said.
When DiFusco determined the group had assembled enough material to put it before an audience, he went to the Odyssey Theater and was given a performance date: midnight, July 4, 1980. Writing credit for the play – both then and now – was given to DiFusco, his six original actor/veterans and writer Sheldon Lettich.
“I didn’t know if anyone would even show up, but the place was full. They gave us a standing ovation, so I thought we must have something,” said DiFusco.
The company returned to what DiFusco calls “the lab,” worked three more months on the script, then returned to the Odyssey for a run that lasted almost a year. The show’s success resulted in DiFusco getting calls from producers across the country.
Steppenwolf Theater in Chicago was among the most persistent. “But I had this thing that I didn’t want it done unless it was performed by veterans. What you saw at the first production was a combination of the play and you knew they (cast) were there,” said DiFusco. “There was a cathartic, confessional event going on.”
He eventually yielded and Steppenwolf produced the play. “I went there and worked with them as a writer and changed a few things along the way. It became very successful for them and they joined us in becoming part of the growing veterans’ movement.”
New York was the next theater hub desiring “Tracers,” but once again DiFusco was reluctant, holding fast that veterans must be in the cast. Then, on a DiFusco visit to the city, a member of a New York veterans’ theater group introduced him to Joe Papp of NY Public Theater fame.
“Papp read the play the night before we met and he greeted me by saying, ‘I’m really emotional; I really want to do your play!’ So, we made a handshake deal.”
The show opened in New York in January 1985 and was produced in conjunction with VetCo, the New York veterans’ theater group. “I also had two of my original guys do it and it was a hit,” said DiFusco. “I don’t think anyone around the theater expected that, but it got the same rave reviews we had gotten in LA and Chicago. So, when you’re successful in New York, it gets published, goes international. This was all happening at the height of the (veterans’) movement, plus the (Berlin) Wall and all sorts of things were happening. We were right in the middle of it. It was quite a high time for us, actually.”
Now, with the war in Iraq, DiFusco believes the time is again right for “Tracers.”
“For me, the show is my statement for peace,” he said. “It’s not an anti-war play, but it will certainly give you an idea of what these guys are going through now, and coming back to, and having to carry around with them forever.
“I’m around a lot of Iraq vets. They see the war on different levels. There are guys who feel that they’re freeing the Iraqis and they’re doing some good. But I’m also seeing that that’s going away – more and more they’re saying ‘what the f*** are we doing here?’ Some are feeling suicidal; there are so many things going on here. And it’s only just begun.”
“Tracers,” Hermosa Beach Playhouse, Pier Avenue and PCH, Hermosa Beach. Now through June 8. Tuesdays through Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 2 p.m.; Sunday, June 8 additional performance at 7 p.m. Tickets $35 - $45. Call 310-372-4477 or visit www.hermosabeachplayhouse.com. Show contains adult language. ER
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