Falling to pieces post war

A veteran comes home from the hell of the Second World War. Life is good. He marries, has a kid and is successful at work.

Then all hell breaks loose. He starts having flashbacks and nightmares. His wife notices wild mood swings. He becomes angry, even violent. It leads to drinking, more violence and a further downward spiral. His wife can’t deal with it and eventually his seeks solace in the arms of another man.

Paul is only a fictional character in Legion Blues, Eye Flower Productions’ most hard-hitting show, now playing at Azimuth Theatre from Nov. 11 to 21.

However, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a very severe anxiety disorder, and playwright/director Michael Beamish, 28, is angry that all too often veterans don’t get the help they need.

“I’m hoping to educate people to think more deeply about the war and the sacrifices soldiers make. It’s not just their life that they put on the line, it’s their mental health,” says Beamish.

His concern stems from war stories he heard around the table at his Athabasca home. One grandfather was a Second World War veteran, his grandmother a war bride and his other grandfather served in the Royal Canadian Air Force.

“They openly talked about their experiences. They felt that for the next generation to learn about war, they needed to talk about it. It made me very political. My grandmother’s message to me is that war is a horrible thing.”

Beamish believes soldiers are today’s heroes for risking everything. “When we send them to places like Afghanistan, we should give them the physical and mental care they need, not just for one year, but for the rest of their life.”

In Legion Blues, Paul (Willie Banfield) doesn’t experience PTSD until about half dozen years after the war has ended.

“Post-traumatic stress disorder can occur anytime, not just after they return. Many don’t experience PTSD until they retire. Usually they’ve been too busy, but when they retire, they have time to think and the memories come back.”

Although television often depicts the ‘50s as an idealized era, Beamish believes the reality was much different. “Soldiers were expected to move on with their lives. I can only imagine what it was like to try and live a normal life without any help after seeing the brutality of war.”

Legion Blues was first mounted for Stage Struck, an Alberta Dramatic Foundation for the Arts Festival in February 2010. Beamish won the outstanding director award.

“Even though it has a strong message, it’s very entertaining. There’s a love affair, stage fighting and flashback sequences. The poetry is mixed in with a soundtrack by Kyle Cullen that is very eerie to watch. It takes you to another place.”