Flags

Suffering from battle fatigue this election season? Chin up! There’s succor if you know where to look. One outstanding example is the series of “Real People” ads by documentarian Errol Morris, in which Republicans talk about why they’re not voting for the incumbent (they may not air in our state, but they’re online at MoveOnPAC.org). Another is Flags, a play by the famously pseudonymous Jane Martin; after commissioning it, the Guthrie wisely pushed up its production so that it could be seen in our swing state before the election. In a sense, Martin sets her play in real time: It’s the month before the 2004 presidential election, and a Vietnam vet is grieving the death of his son in the Iraq war. When he and his family hang the Star-Spangled Banner upside-down—a signal of distress—it provokes a heated confrontation. Is this a family of heroes, or are they enemies of the state? Is true patriotism loving your country and its ideals, or supporting the current leadership? See Flags with a Republican you love—or anyone who has a relative in the military. 1501 S. 4th St., Minneapolis; 612-338-6131; www.mixedblood.com