Where were you? Do you remember what you were doing at about 8 a.m. on Sept. 11, 2001?
For a group of firemen from Ladder Co. 60 in New York City, they were making their way to the World Trade Center in an effort to rescue victims of the terrorist attack.
They, too, became victims after the second plane hit and the eventual collapse of the two towers.
Anne Nelson's "The Guys" is a biographical play based on what happened to her days after the attack.
"The Guys" opens this evening at Chautauqua Park at 7:30. It will run through Sunday.
This is not a humorous performance. It is a biographical account of how circumstances put Nelson in a position to deal with the incident directly despite not having lost a loved one.
 In the play, Joan is the name of Nelson's character. As it did to so many people, the attack left Joan with an empty feeling. She was unsure of what she needed - or could - do to help those who have been suffering.
Through fate, Nick, the fire captain, meets with Joan while seeking someone to help him write eulogies for the eight men of his company lost in the attack. In the play, four are looked at in detail.
Nick, played superbly by Jim Wolfe, meets with Joan, portrayed magnificently by Liz Vincent, at her apartment.
He is a stoic and intelligent man. His mission is to make sure the firemen are remembered for who they were - regular men doing their job.
Although nervous at first, Nick is made to feel more at ease as Joan uses her experience as a writer and interviewer in bringing out the most information possible. As the leader of men, Nick doesn't show a lot of emotion.
On the other hand, Joan is very emotional in trying to help bring the deceased firefighters back to life.
Are you OK?
 Joan asks this question seemingly not only to herself, but to Nick and the audience. Nick has been dealing with the direct impact losing eight men has created. Joan is still trying to understand the situation.
The two manage to help each other deal with the situation by working through the lives of the dead men. There were eight firefighters lost from the company, but the play looks at four in particular.
The tension is eased somewhat when Nick starts telling of Bill, the dependable, quiet hero. Bill was a leader among the men. he is experienced and provides help to the new men.
Jimmy is one of those new guys. He joined with another is also missing from the engine company housed at the same fire house. Nick didn't seem to know too much about the new guy, just that it was his first real run.
Patrick was a confident Irishman who was seen as a role model to the men. He was a lieutenant going for captain in a few weeks. Like Bill, Patrick was in his mid-40s.
Barney was the joker of the group, even when he wasn't trying to be. The thing about this 30-something was that he wasn't on duty when the call came in. Barney, who can fix anything, was visiting with his best friend, Dave. When the call came, Barney went with the rest of the guys to do what he could.
This is hard on Nick because, as captain, he probably should have been one of the missing. Fate stepped in as he was tells Joan he was at home at the time of the attack. Patrick, who shared leadership duties with Nick, had offered to work that Tuesday morning long before anyone knew what was to take place.
A very strong and emotion effort was given by Vincent and Wolfe. The two played off each other very well. The strength in the performance is in the emotion portrayed by both.
This is easily the most intense and deep performance produced on the Chautauqua stage in some time. The play closes with Nick giving his eulogy of Barney. Dressed in uniform, he is confident and firm in his delivery. He is also warm in telling of a man who lived his life as a member of Ladder Co. 60 of the NYFD.
Story courtesy of the Pontiac Daily Leader
By Erich Murphy/Managing Editor
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