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Silberman's short play on 9/11 debuts in NYC |
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In the wake of Sept. 11, 2001, writers, musicians, artists of all mediums, even people who have never considered themselves creative, struggled to find an outlet for the feelings evoked by that day that changed this nation. Brian Silberman was not one of them. An assistant professor of English, a successful playwright and former resident of Manhattan, one would think Silberman would be quick to write about the day. He wasn't. In fact, even when approached by a New York director friend, Erica Gould, to participate in a performing arts festival commemorating the date, Silberman didn't know if he had a 9/11 piece in him. But he decided to try. And once he finally found his topic, an hour later the piece was done. On Sept. 10, 2002, the fruits of his effort, a short play called "Throw," took shape on stage at Manhattan's Town Hall as part of the "Brave New World" festival, which featured works by writers such as Christopher Durang, John Guare and Beth Henley, over the course of three days. Oscar, Emmy and Tony Award-winning actors were attached to the pieces - people like Susan Sarandon, Tim Robbins, Holly Hunter, Sarah Jessica Parker. In fact Parker's husband, Matthew Broderick, starred in Silberman's piece alongside Trudie Styler (the wife of rock legend Sting) and Billy Crudup. The piece tells the story of a father who, after the towers fell, walked from downtown to his home in New Jersey. He tells his family of the broken glass flying through the air and the debris everywhere. The images stick with the 8-year-old son, who then becomes obsessed with throwing anything he can, any time he can. Silberman equates throwing with expressing the child's fear of loss. Currently there are no plans to produce the work locally, but the event organizers are considering publishing the pieces, Silberman said.
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