Comments on: They’re Hijacking My Play!

By: Newspaper articles about Don’s Postville play « Ups & Downs

Newspaper articles about Don’s Postville play « Ups & Downs — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 04:19:24 +0000

[...] a look at Don’s blog, “They’re Hijacking My Play” to see more on the events in Postville and on the play, and click on the following links to [...]

By: Amber

Amber — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 04:32:44 +0000

You know, I have heard about and discussed this play with you for several years. I really do like the spin you have set to it, giving it a new dimension.

I think you should place plenty of comedy in this. Hasids are funny.. as are American hicks. If you make fun of everyone, no one can be offended.. or everyone is offended equally!

By: donfried

donfried — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 18:53:06 +0000

Yeah, in hindsight it seems obvious. But all through the development so far, people have been haranguing me with, “You’ll never be able to write this play without making it anti-Semitic.” So I’ve been extremely careful to avoid the issue of guilt in any way. Another theme of the play that I didn’t mention in the post is that “No one is to blame.”

The recent developments invite you to deal with blame. So I guess I just had my blinders on.

You’re right, including it as the primary driver for the third act is definitely a positive addition to the play.

By: David Kassin Fried

David Kassin Fried — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 18:43:14 +0000

Why, the raid works completely with the themes of your play. The only difference is that now it's the Hassidic Jews - a group of people resist change like its meningitis - who have to come to terms with the fact that they, too, must change their ways in order to survive. It's the perfect third act. By the way, check out Unknown Screenwriter's last two posts on theme. I think you might find it interesting.