When We Go Upon the Sea

Even after seeing When We Go Upon the Sea , I’m not sure what exactly does happen. Lee Blessing’s ambitious, but muddled, imagination of George W. Bush the night before being tried at International Court of Justice at The Hague for war crimes tackles a thought-provoking subject, but it never provides a solid narrative. Instead, it wanders aimlessly for 85 minutes, and, despite a talented cast, provides an unsatisfying conclusion.Staged in Bush’s hotel suite the night before beginning trial, Blessing presents Bush as nervous and fidgety, but still confident in his innocence. The majority of the show consists of his conversation with Pietro (Peter Schmitz), the employee of the hotel assigned to cater to his needs and Anna Lisa (the sultry Kim Carson) a woman summoned by Pietro to “soothe” him.Pietro and Anna Lisa’s view of government, capitalism and human nature are drastically different than Bush’s, and they do provide an interesting foil to the former president’s suspicious perspective and inability to believe the two simply want to provide him with a pleasant evening rather than blackmail him for money or political favors.Again, in theory, the idea is interesting, but this production is far too talk-heavy, with too little action onstage (although plenty seems to happen off-stage when Bush is in the bedroom with Anna Lisa). And Bush, who should be the most interesting character in the show, is the least. Pietro and Anna Lisa are far more interesting than him; instead, he seems like nothing more than the man Americans watched on television for eight years. On the eve of his trial, one would expect some kind of confession or revelation from him, but instead he merely snorts cocaine, swills whiskey and swaggers about his room asserting his innocence. The lengthy speeches, however heartfelt, are unconvincing, and the ending is anticlimactic. One applauds Blessing’s ambition but hopes he continues to refine it.