Playwright Gregory Burke tells Kurt Andersen about the challenges of creating theater about the Iraq War without getting too political. Burke's play, Black Watch, portrays the daily life of a Scottish regiment stationed in Iraq. Also, the brain works in mysterious ways. After Sylvia D'Arcangelo suffered a stroke and lost her ability to speak words, her son Gideon found he could communicate with her through song. We hear Gideon's breakthrough with Sylvia and find out about the scientific research happening now that explores this condition and what it means for neuroscience.
Banner image: Soldiers in action in Gregory Burke's play, Black Watch; Photo: Pavel Antonov