‘The Guys’

A one-act play by Anne Nelson

Starring Carol Swarbrick Dries and Paul Martin, directed by Jim Dries

When: 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 11

Where: Sequim Prairie Grange, 290 Macleay Road

Presented by: Readers Theatre Plus

Admission: Free, with donations benefiting American Hero Quilts

More info: Call 360-787-3337

For the fourth and likely final time, Readers Theatre Plus stages “The Guys.”

The tribute by Anne Nelson to fallen servicemen and women of the Sept. 11, 2001, tragedy in New York City brings back Carol Swarbrick Dries as a journalism professor interviewing a New York City fire department captain, played by Paul Martin, who lost eight men in the collapse of the Twin Towers.

With her help, the captain must write eulogies for his fallen “guys.”

Martin said the play’s writing is so strong that it drives him to return.

“It’s exquisite writing,” Martin said. “I see these wounded people but it ends on a positive note. She’s a competent and strong woman absorbing his pain and he is becoming more and more confident … It’s superb writing all in an hour and 5 minutes.”

The one-act play runs for one show at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 11, in Sequim Prairie Grange, 290 Macleay Road. At the event American Legion Riders return to welcome viewers with a “Flag Line” with a display of a 9/11 commemorative flag with stripes on the flag made up of the people who were lost in 9/11.

Readers Theatre Plus first introduced the play on the 10th anniversary of the attacks and have revisited each year since.

Swarbrick Dries said due to her busy schedule she’s going to hang up her reporter’s notebook in “The Guys,” but she also wants to leave the play going out with an impact.

“We don’t want to short change the production saying it’s the final one but we feel we would be shortchanging it if we went on and the audiences diminished.”

However, response to this show has been strong, she said, since donations benefit American Hero Quilts, a nonprofit organization that creates and donates quilts to veterans and their families.

Following “The Guys,” Readers Theatre Plus presents “A Nice Family Gathering” Oct. 17-26.

Pat Owens directs and proceeds benefit the Port Angeles Symphony as regular shows return to the Dungeness Schoolhouse due to scheduling.

Swarbrick Dries said they hope to raise awareness for a platform vertical lift in the schoolhouse to make it ADA accessible again.

For more information on Readers Theatre Plus, visit readerstheatreplus.com.