What I liked
See above
What I didn't like
This show is fucking flawless.
My overall impression
While the laughs far outweigh the moments of solemnity, it is Bill (“Rolly Posley”) Posley’s deviations into the serious – the fates of his boot camp brethren, the brushes with death in Baghdad, the dichotomy of occupying police forces both home and abroad, and finally, the (spoiler) reunions with thunderstruck relatives – which are the most poignant moments of this show, and which linger longest with the viewer after witnessing this tour de force performance.
Weaving a comprehensive biographical story which is less bullets & blood and more the childhood, personality, and uniquely American circumstances which led Posley to such warfare, The Day I Accidentally Went to War coaxes the audience into remembering a seemingly bygone folly of foreign policy, and reminiscing about a past which may not return for any of us – veterans or “normies” alike. There’s no anti-war agenda or cheap political commentary, no cheesy humanizing anecdotes or exploitative 9/11 schlock. Despite being a history no one else but he can tell, the experience is familiar, comfortable, and relatable, owing to the universal themes, thoughts, memories and fears percolating throughout Posley’s prose. He effortlessly guides us on an unbelievable – but totally true – recovery mission down memory lane, yet somehow makes it so enjoyable, humorous, meaningful and fresh that those of us old enough to remember it the first time actually cherish reliving the trauma.
Funny, personable, blunt, authentic; all of these apply to Posley’s adroit storytelling and inborn charisma. Fearsome, angering, sad, and difficult justly apply to the troubling material making up the narrative. But above all else, this flawlessly executed, technically superb, and frustratingly relevant performance conjures up one must-see superlative above all others: important.
