Time Stands Still

Steppenwolf Theater Company
by Donald Margulies

Time Stands Still explores the phenomenon, if you will, of people who choose as a vocation reporting and photographing war zones and areas of conflict. It explores or questions the motivations and the lifestyle of these people, since it isn't as straightforward as, say, the motivations of a soldier which can be ascribed to patriotism and protection.

The play is set in an apartment in New York with a photographer rehabilitating from a war-related injury with her partner, who has regularly reported on wars for years. Her partner was not with her when the injury happened, as he left earlier than her after being traumatized by something he saw.

I saw this about a week ago. I'm trying to remember the last time I saw something that I'd put something in this category. Let me try and explain.

The play did a great and thorough job of laying out a complicated subject. There was a comprehensive exploration of the topic at hand. I think the play, though, failed to do more than lay out the subject. It didn't really advance the conversation or attempt to answer the really hard questions. Or, push the viewer to answer the hard questions for themselves. It was a great organization of thoughts we've all had, but didn't really add much to the conversation, I think.

The dramatic tension lay between the active and passive witnessing of violent events in foreign lands. And, then there is a central question, "How do you respond to this misery?"

It's funny because I'm reading Bleak House right now, by Charles Dickens. And, it's actually the same sort of thing. Dickens saw overwhelming poverty and injustice around him. And, bad things happening in foreign lands. But, and this is important...whether you agree with his answer or not, he lays out an answer of what you can do. In his own way he preaches that you should do tangible, real good where you can. Take care of the widows and the orphans. Be alert to opportunities to do good when you personally encounter misery, and he assumes that without trying but just by opening your eyes, you will encounter misery. And, he is writing in Bleak House - small acts of good are better than the best of noblest of intentions to do massive amounts of good on a large scale. Because progress is slow, but possible, in changing the systems that oppress us.

Time Stands Still raises some real ethical questions. Should reporters and photographers intervene when they see misery? How are they profiting on the misery of others? What is the duty of those who read the stories back home? What is the use of those stories back home? How are we to respond as a nation and individually to these stories? What can we really, truly do - to make a difference? Does knowledge of these events actually change anything? The questions come up in the play, but the play doesn't even take a real stab at the answer. And, I think that is the main shortcoming of the play.

In terms of the production, I thought the casting was really nice. Francis Guinan and Kristina Valada-Viars, they just knocked it out of the park. And, that was a surprise. Because the instant they came on stage, you sort of thought - "oh no, there is no way I'm going to be able to believe these two people are together" and they pulled it off insanely well.

One of the stars was the set. The apartment was amazing. There were so many details to love, but one of my favorites was that the apartment was in warm colors almost entirely, with a little balance here and there. But, the sheets were a cool color, sort of foreshadowing the end of the play.

I'd recommend it, especially as a piece of the five main plays this season at Steppenwolf. But, I wouldn't expect it to change your life or anything.