Panting For Glory

Armed with percussion rifles when most other US soldiers still carried flintlock muskets, the “Mississippi Rifles” served in the war against Mexico that followed the annexation of Texas in 1845. In Panting for Glory: The Mississippi Rifles in the Mexican War, Richard Bruce Winders skillfully uncovers the contrasting wartime experiences of two regiments, the 1st and 2nd Mississippi Rifles. The 1st Mississippi Rifles were lauded for their service and remain a familiar part of the history of the Mexican War. Under the leadership of Col. Jefferson Davis—later the President of the Confederate States of America—the 1st enjoyed significant victories at the Battle of Buena Vista and the Battle of Monterey. The 2nd Mississippi Rifles, by contrast, saw little action and returned home overlooked and largely forgotten. Panting for Glory compares these regiments to show that the contours of history were sometimes arbitrary and that military historians, in their analysis of failure, should take into account a wide range of factors that influence outcomes, not merely records of wins and losses. As Winders concludes, “the 1st and 2nd Mississippi Rifles . . . offer the perfect opportunity to examine two sides of war: glory gained and glory denied.”

These two plays - the winners of Synergy Theatre Project's Prison Writing Competition - tell the tense but often funny stories of drug users and the stress their habits place on their relationships. In Glory Whispers, we see Mina visited by Glory after many years away. Hopeful of seeing Glory's little boy, Mina overlooks Glory's drinking and possible drug use. But when Mina's boyfriend Jonno returns unexpectedly, the troubles and pressures of their relationships see the illusion fall away. The Monkey sees Terry on a rampage trying to reclaim the £500 his friend Alan (aka 'Thick-Al') owes him. Terry's unpredictability, the result of an accident many years before, drives the piece in dark, violent but often hilarious and unexpected ways. These plays were published to coincided with a 2017 production at Theatre503, London, by Synergy Theatre Company.

The Anniversary is a thought-provoking play that mirrors the socio-political challenges faced by many Africans, particularly in Cameroon. The narrative unravels the nonchalance of a dictatorial regime to the suffering of its people and the eventual uprising against the long-standing oppressive leadership. The play highlights the theme of unity, the role of women, and people’s power as critical elements in fighting against oppressive systems. It draws parallels with the political landscape in Cameroon, offering a prophetic reflection on the enduring nature of such regimes and the need to flush them out in order for the people to be truly free.