Plays With Violence, Fighting or Assault
Spoiler Alert! Violence could be an unexpected plot point in these plays.
See also:
Dutchman by Amiri Baraka (2 Scenes)
Clay, a young black man, is riding the subway. Lula, a white woman in revealing clothes and eating an apple, boards the train. She openly flirts with Clay and behaves unpredictably.
Othello by William Shakespeare (5 Acts)
General Othello is in love with Desdemona. His ensign, Iago, hates him because he was passed over for promotion. Iago’s companion, Roderigo, is also in love with Desdemona. Othello and Desdemona marry. Iago plans to ruin Othello and the man who was promoted over him.
Blood Wedding by Federico Garcia Lorca (3 Acts)
The Bridegroom’s wedding to the Bride is approaching. His father and brother were killed by the Felix family. The Bride’s first love is a man named Leonardo, a member of the Felix family. Leonardo, now married with a child, hears that the Bride is getting married and gets upset. He has also been spotted lately near the Bride’s home.
The Kentucky Cycle by Robert Schenkkan (9 Plays of 1 Act Each)
This family epic spans two hundred years. It begins with Michael Rowen, an Irish immigrant who lost his family in a Cherokee attack. He plots to gain land and another family. The story continues with Rowen’s son Patrick, his grandson Jed, a long-term rivalry with the Talberts and more.
Sleep Deprivation Chamber by Adrienne Kennedy & Adam P. Kennedy (3 Scenes)
A young African-American man, Teddy, was severely beaten by a police officer during a stop over a broken taillight. He was then arrested and charged with assault and battery. He and his family cope with the situation and legal proceedings. There are several dream sequences.
A View from the Bridge by Arthur Miller (2 Acts)
Alfieri, an Italian-American lawyer, tells the story of Eddie Carbone, a longshoreman. He lives with his wife, Beatrice, and her orphan niece, Catherine, who’s almost eighteen. Eddie is becoming increasingly attracted to Catherine. Two of Beatrice’s cousins, Marco and Rodolpho, arrive as illegal immigrants, and stay with the family. Catherine and Rodolpho start dating, causing tension with Eddie.
Death and the Maiden by Ariel Dorfman (3 Acts)
The dictatorship has ended and a democratic government now rules. A married couple, Paulina and Gerardo, are living at their beach house. Late one night, Gerardo’s car gets a flat and he gets a ride home from a passing motorist, Miranda. He returns later to talk. Paulina, who was tortured and assaulted under the dictatorship, thinks she recognizes Miranda from the old regime.
