Local playwright Dan Kehde's play "The Trial of President George W. Bush" uses an unrealistic situation (the kidnapping of the president by a bunch of law students) to deal with a number of real issues that include trust, law, morality, justice, manipulation, and responsibility.  The play opened Thursday night at the Capitol Center Theater in Charleston, presented by the Contemporary Youth Arts Company.

The play's title doesn't do justice to the full scope of the drama. The students do put President George W. Bush on trial during the play, but it is their motives and actions that are actually on trial. The characters have to examine why they believe certain things, how they can prove these things they believe, and figure out who they can hold responsible for personal and global problems. The president (Eli Cloonan) never speaks or reacts - he is simply the catalyst for all their debates. 

Casey (Kayla Walls) holds the president responsible for debilitating injuries her brother received in Iraq, and for his subsequent lack of care. Former Navy SEAL Phil (Nik Tidquist) wants to make amends for the killing in which he took part in Iraq. Paul and Adrienne (Ben McCoy and Maria Fioravante) are agents of the International Justice League, an organization that may stand for bringing war criminals to justice, but also is depicted as a having complicated, compromised agenda. 

Star law student Jack (Shane Belcher) and fellow students Lance (Patrick Felton) and Charlotte (Courtney Forbes) find themselves dragged into the debate and the mock trial despite their lack of compelling motives. Their professor, "Doc," (Evan Wilson) orchestrates the trial of the president and forces the students to control their emotions and try to examine their problems within the context of the law. 

The most thought-provoking parts of the play come during the trial, which doesn't occur until the second act. In the act one, the characters could have spent less time in repeated amazement at having actually kidnapped the president. 

This play does the complicated issues it addresses justice by not offering simple solutions.  Many of the questions raised go far beyond the current era and government, but they are given an engaging and understandable frame by using a very current reference point.   

"The Trial of President George W. Bush" continues at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and April 17-19. Tickets are $9.50 for adults, $5.50 for students and seniors.

Local playwright Dan Kehde's play "The Trial of President George W. Bush" uses an unrealistic situation (the kidnapping of the president by a bunch of law students) to deal with a number of real issues that include trust, law, morality, justice, manipulation, and responsibility.  The play opened Thursday night at the Capitol Center Theater in Charleston, presented by the Contemporary Youth Arts Company.

The play's title doesn't do justice to the full scope of the drama. The students do put President George W. Bush on trial during the play, but it is their motives and actions that are actually on trial. The characters have to examine why they believe certain things, how they can prove these things they believe, and figure out who they can hold responsible for personal and global problems. The president (Eli Cloonan) never speaks or reacts - he is simply the catalyst for all their debates. 

Casey (Kayla Walls) holds the president responsible for debilitating injuries her brother received in Iraq, and for his subsequent lack of care. Former Navy SEAL Phil (Nik Tidquist) wants to make amends for the killing in which he took part in Iraq. Paul and Adrienne (Ben McCoy and Maria Fioravante) are agents of the International Justice League, an organization that may stand for bringing war criminals to justice, but also is depicted as a having complicated, compromised agenda. 

Star law student Jack (Shane Belcher) and fellow students Lance (Patrick Felton) and Charlotte (Courtney Forbes) find themselves dragged into the debate and the mock trial despite their lack of compelling motives. Their professor, "Doc," (Evan Wilson) orchestrates the trial of the president and forces the students to control their emotions and try to examine their problems within the context of the law. 

The most thought-provoking parts of the play come during the trial, which doesn't occur until the second act. In the act one, the characters could have spent less time in repeated amazement at having actually kidnapped the president. 

This play does the complicated issues it addresses justice by not offering simple solutions.  Many of the questions raised go far beyond the current era and government, but they are given an engaging and understandable frame by using a very current reference point.   

"The Trial of President George W. Bush" continues at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and April 17-19. Tickets are $9.50 for adults, $5.50 for students and seniors.