Morgantown Arts Center debuts Iraq play ‘Infidel’

M.T. Pockets will be debuting a play, "Infidel," written by Morgantown native Robert Leonhard Aug. 26 through Aug. 28 at 8 p.m. in the Tanner Theatre of the Monongalia Arts Center.

"Infidel" is the story of a soldier's experiences with the Iraq war and his relationships with friends, enemies and himself.

Shea Thompson, director of the play, called "Infidel" a "psychological thriller."

"It's very brutally honest, graphic at times, with what war does to the human psyche and the effect that it has on the people that are in this line of work," he said.

The characters are played by Jay Lindsay, Sean Marko, Melissa Ryan, Jay Yokochi, Walter Hurd, Kristen McCabe and Cody Tarantini.

Leonhard, an Iraq war veteran, focuses on the depression that many veterans feel and that he himself experienced.

The play was originally performed at the Outside the Lines Theatre Company in Chicago.

Leonhard worked with M.T. Pockets' resident playwright Don Fidler to make slight changes to the script.

Leonhard wanted the play to be less cruel because the original promoted depression.

"The original version was very angry and dark, and now that I'm older and have a better perspective, I wanted to make the play softer," Leonhard said.

Leonhard was deployed to Iraq from 2004-05 as a convoy escort in the Army National Guard; he also worked in Kuwait as a government contractor.

Before he was deployed, Leonhard had earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts at West Virginia University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.

He currently works as an attorney of commercial litigation.

The play also features multimedia production. It is a blend of video clips, voice overs and stage acting. Thompson wanted to make the play different from others.

"The multimedia makes the play very avant-garde and dark," Thompson said. "It also contains very graphic material such as stage blood and an actual gun being fired."

There will be a talk-back session with the playwright, director and cast after the Aug. 26 performance.

Tickets are $13 for adults, $11 for seniors and $8 for students. It is also recommended for mature audiences.

Tickets can be bought at the MAC or online at www.shop.mtpocketstheatre.com.