Solitaire

a play by Joshua Crone

06

November
Writer/Director
Set Design
Music
Animation
Actors
About
Stand by to learn the rules of solitary confinement with Jeremy Stills, a young Marine imprisoned for the torture death of a suspected terrorist. As Jeremy struggles to maintain his sanity in this compelling and relevant new play, guilt manifests itself in the form of a mute Arab who plays game after game of solitaire—a strange interlude to a series of increasingly surreal and violent visitations from the past and present. Written and directed by Joshua Crone, a former Marine with theatre credits in London, Krakow, and Berlin and film credits from the Polish National Film School in Lodz and the American Film Institute, Solitaire skillfully weaves "found footage" into the narrative using a range of innovative techniques, including holographic projection on glass. The footage depicts torture at a military detainment facility and a family reunion shot guerrilla style at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego during an actual graduation. The project also features a symbol-laden and visually dynamic cell designed by AFI production design fellow Daniel Frank, original music by four-time Grammy-winning songwriter Jonathan Crone, and stop-motion animation by award-winning Polish animator Natalia Brozynska.
Reviews
"Drawn from today’s news, the play brings up serious issues as to the realities and consequences, of war and makes Joshua Crone a playwright to watch. The acting is excellent, especially on the part of Schwalenstocker whose Jeremy is a perplexing mix of innocent youth, war weary apathy, and resignation to his serious predicament." -Marilyn Tower Oliver, Los Feliz Ledger "A power packed play that is more disturbing that one would imagine. It’s a saga of ‘war is hell’ where it’s more hell than war. The action is tight, compact, and never lets down from its first moments to its conclusion. This stage production, as tight as it can get, is highly recommended!" -Rich Borowy, Accessibly Live "Dark, creepy, yet insanely interesting…a great play to see the display of the acting talents of those involved." -Tony Capobianco, AXS "At times riveting, thought provoking, and humorous for a play that deals with the abhorrent nature of the torture of men…. Crone is an excellent writer and manages to capture the essence of a working Marine…. Run! And take a Marine, or another a military veteran, and talk about it on the long way home." -Joe Straw, joestraw9.blogspot.com (full review)

“

At times riveting, thought provoking, and humorous for a play that deals with the abhorrent nature of the torture of men…. Crone is an excellent writer and manages to capture the essence of a working Marine…. Run! And take a Marine, or another a military veteran, and talk about it on the long way home.

Joe Straw / joestraw9.blogspot.com
“

Dark, creepy, yet insanely interesting…a great play to see the display of the acting talents of those involved.

Tony Capobianco / AXS
“

A power packed play that is more disturbing that one would imagine. It’s a saga of ‘war is hell’ where it’s more hell than war. The action is tight, compact, and never lets down from its first moments to its conclusion. This stage production, as tight as it can get, is highly recommended!

Rich Borowy / Accessibly Live
“

Drawn from today’s news, the play brings up serious issues as to the realities and consequences, of war and makes Joshua Crone a playwright to watch. The acting is excellent, especially on the part of Schwalenstocker whose Jeremy is a perplexing mix of innocent youth, war weary apathy, and resignation to his serious predicament.

Marilyn Tower Oliver / Los Feliz Ledger