STAGE REVIEW : Irish Soldiers Speak the Poetry of Injustice in ‘A Flag to Fly’

During the war between Mexico and the United States in 1846-48, a U.S. battalion that was made up mostly of Irish immigrants jumped to the Mexican side. Of those soldiers of St. Patrick who were captured, most were whipped 50 times and branded with a D for deserter on their cheeks--but 50 of them were sentenced to hang.

“A Flag to Fly,” Chris Matthews’ stunning hourlong drama at the Celtic Arts Center about seven of those awaiting the gallows, is a testament to a belief in right and justice that is as pertinent as today’s headlines in its condemnation of jingoistic brutality.

Lincoln called the U.S.-Mexican conflict “the sheerest deception,” and U.S. Grant referred to it as “the most unjust war.” The Irish-American battalion, the San Patricios, was made up mostly of men who fled Ireland to escape the famine and religious persecution, but they soon realized the inequity of the American presence in Mexico, which resulted in the annexation of half of Mexico into the United States.

If the play has a flaw, it is brevity. Another half hour would give Matthews the time to provide further details in the Matthew Brady-like snapshots he has taken of his seven prisoners. His program notes say that this is “a very stylized version of the full production, without Yankee soldiers, subsets and crowd scenes.”

While these seven soldiers are enough to make his point without slipping into pageantry, we would just like to spend a little more time with them and feel a little more of the pain of their 4 1/2-hour wait in their nooses watching the final battle of Chapultepec and the raising of the American flag that signaled their doom. Johnny, we hardly knew ye.

Matthews also directs with passion and compassion a fine cast, including Mike Vaughn, William Brochtrup, Patrick Thornton, Pete Gallatin, Neal Eastman, Chris Campbell and Martin Maguire. Elda Maria Lopez appears briefly as a Mexican woman who sends her Irish lover off to defend her country. It is ensemble work of intricacy and richness and an understanding of the humor and poetry in the Irish soul.

Maybe it’s that humor and poetry that sets “A Flag to Fly” apart. In recent wars there have been no poets to sing of the brutality and injustice, to make us feel deeply about the unknown soldiers we forget too soon. Lately we only have windows on the bloodshed and destruction, journalism instead of heartbeat. It’s the poetry in the hearts of these seven that makes them memorable.

Peter Strauss’ intricate lighting, Evan McGraph’s realistic sound and Tera Dawn Oppenheimer’s authentically battered costumes all help to bring this moment of heroism into focus.

At 5651 Hollywood Blvd., Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 3 p.m., through Sept. 17. Tickets: $10; (213) 462-6844.