Abandonment

DEHeap Enterprises, Inc.

Exclamation! Publishers

Center for White Rose Studies Exclamation! Publishers Business Services Online Store

Abandonment. A Three-Act Play by Ruth Hanna Sachs.

After years of grousing about the poor quality of dramas available on the subject of German resistance in general, and White Rose resistance in particular, Ruth Sachs was challenged to write a play that would accurately and passionately portray the group as they really were.

The result: Abandonment.

Although the play is book-ended by first and third acts that feature Willi Graf's aloneness ~ hence the title ~ it is not "about" Willi Graf. The meat of the play, indeed, a full half of the performance time, is dedicated to the debate that took place in February 1943, a debate that both strengthened and weakened the White Rose.

Strengthened, because those who were truly dedicated to resistance, to informed dissent, left more determined than ever to bring down Hitler's regime. Weakened, because the debate highlighted their differences and pointed to an eventual dissolution of the group as it stood.

This debate is more relevant to 21st century America (and Western Europe) than the leaflets they wrote. It raises questions that the best ethicists and philosophers among us have difficulty answering:

What if any are the "absolutes" at stake when a government is dead wrong? Is it all right to protest alongside people with whom we have deep differences on other matters important to us? What role does / should religion play in our politics? When is compromise acceptable, when is it not? What issues are so compelling that we are willing to lay down our lives for them, and how can we know we are right?

No easy answers for any of the above. It is our sincere hope that this play will get students (and adults!) talking about things that matter.

Sixteen "named" players in all (plus undetermined number of "extras" - your discretion): Nine adult males, six adult females, and one small child (no speaking lines for the child).

The play includes a "Brecht-ian" scene that may be effective, depending on your audience. The option for omitting it is included with each script.

Script can be ordered through our online store ($10 each ~ either 1 copy only for perusal purposes, or minimum order of 20 scripts).

Royalties: For high school, college, university, and community theaters, $50 for the first performance, $35 for each subsequent performance. Can be paid online.

To order scripts or pay royalties, click here.

For-profit professional theaters: Please write us for quote.

DEHeap Enterprises, Inc.

Exclamation! Publishers

770 East Main Street, Suite 220

Lehi, Utah 84043 USA

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Date of last update: 18 March 2008