The War Plays

Often described as the single worst foreign policy decision in American history and the biggest mistake in American military history, the Iraq War finds itself here in the sights of award-winning playwright Andrew Biss. The four one-act plays in this collection range in style from stark realism to heightened reality, but they are all unified by one common theme: the Iraq War. In DEDICATION, grief-stricken father belatedly pays his respects at his son's gravesite and soon finds himself drawn into an argument over the reason why he lost his child in the first place. The metaphorical DEGRADED finds a representative from the Department of Social Services paying a visit to a long-suffering battered wife. It soon becomes apparent, however, that this man is a far cry from the benevolent official he would have her believe. In THE JONESES, meanwhile, a zealous couple's desire to be seen as doyens of the community leads them to undertake a misguided mission that rapidly spirals out of control. However, in spite of the grim realities that now confront them, they remain stalwart in their pursuit of a higher social standing. But is that really the smell of victory in the air...or did things just get a little too hot to handle? And finally, in FOREIGN BODIES, Victoria and Max have just arrived at their hotel ready to enjoy an exotic bargain-priced getaway. Unfortunately for them, between what they perceive to be marauding insects and wildly erratic weather patterns, their holiday soon becomes a far more hazardous endeavour than they'd anticipated. When a group of locals who they take to be traveling players appear on the scene, however, they at last feel things are about to brighten up for them...and indeed they are.