Political Plays

The Hostage by Brendan Behan (3 Acts)

Pat, an IRA soldier and Irish nationalist, runs a lodging house/brothel with his wife, Meg. They have different views on Irish nationalism. The real owner, Monsewer, is delusional, believing he’s still fighting in the Civil War. There’s a radio report of an IRA prisoner due to be executed by the British. Two IRA guards arrive with a hostage, Leslie, a British soldier.

The Front Page by Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur (3 Acts)

Reporters are hanging out in the press room of the Chicago Criminal Courts Building. They’re waiting for the hanging of Earl Williams, a white man convicted of killing a black police officer. They’re surprised by the news that Williams has escaped from his psychiatric examination.

The Memorandum by Vaclav Havel (12 Scenes)

Josef Gross, an office manager, receives an unreadable memorandum. It’s not in English. It’s in Ptydepe, a new office language authorized by his deputy director, Ballas, that is supposed to be more efficient. Josef tries to get to the bottom of this change and get his memo translated.

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 thinks she recognizes Miranda from the old regime.