The Birthday Present 2050

ISBN-13: 9780615759005 / Angielski / Miękka / 2013 / 94 str.

Tania Wisbar

Opis

"Birthday Present 2050" is a dystopian drama. There are many fine books and movies but fewer dystopian plays to be read or performed. "Birthday Present 2050" takes place in a totalitarian system of government in which only people and things considered "productive" are assured existence. Among the non-productive are pets, flowers and any person over the age of 65. After a parent reaches that age, it is up to the next generation, the sons and daughters, to choose on each subsequent birthday between extending the life of the ageing parent or accumulating more comfort for themselves. In the world of 2050, there is no hunger, no homelessness, no crime except for one: the crime of holding memories of the past before all freedom of choice of how, whom and when to love was forbidden. The crime of memory is fatal. "Birthday Present 2050" is a one act, 3 scene play. Teresa Hallick is going to her birthday party to learn if her 4 daughters have given her the gift of life for another year -or not. At 72 years of age, Teresa is the oldest member of this society; the last holder of memories "from then." As such the government fears her, because it has been passed down, however silently, from one generation to the next that Teresa was a rebel as the new government came into power. Being alive she still poses a threat . The government watchers observe the 4 daughters quarrel about extending their mother's life or not. But it is Teresa's 15 year old granddaughter, Trinka, allowed home from a gated school for this one birthday night of decision who provides the unexpected answer.