Morgan’s Mumbles: My Favorite Plays Part 2, by teen contributor Morgan Randall

Today as part of our ongoing series where we give teens a platform to share themselves with us teen contributor Morgan Randall shares more of her favorite plays. You can read part 1 here.

And People All Around by George Skylar

This story talks directly on racism and the white supremacy within the United States in the 1960s (and ultimately calls the audience to no longer stay complacent in the racism that is happening in the modern-day). It follows the story of Don Tindall in the small town of Leucadia, in the south. The Redeemers (a nod to the KKK) is a group that is very alive within this town, and that a majority of the authorities who run the town are apart of it. Don, is not, and he becomes really conflicted as a COFO Center is established in their town. He is outraged by the bigotry and hate but is unsure what to do for fear of his own life and comfort. It follows him as he grows close to the people that are at the COFO Center and begins to experience life with them. This story is based on real events, known as the Mississippi Burning and while not all the characters are the same as they were in real life there are a lot of parallels.

The Trojan Women by Euripides

This is a Greek Tragedy, that is well known it follows the women of Troy after the Trojan War. It talks about the challenges they face as they exist in their once homeland with the Greeks now occupying their home. Their husbands have been killed in the war and they are all being taken as slaves or to be forced, brides. It mainly follows the Queen and Princess as they try to cope with losing their family and nation, but also with the grief as they try to support and provide light to the other women.

Never The Sinner by John Logan

Never The Sinner is based on Leopold and Loeb, two men who kidnapped and killed a teenager named Bobby Franks in May of 1942. This story was all over the headlines as the two men were apprehended and tried for their crimes, and their sexual relationship was exposed to newspapers. This story depicts not only these two men living in a world where sexuality isn’t accepted but also deals with the concept of manipulation and how the two men’s ideas and thought impacted each others actions. 

Macbeth by William Shakespeare

Macbeth is one of the most well-known plays by William Shakespeare, it follows the story of a Scottish general who is told his destiny by three witches. His destiny tells of his future glory, and how he will become the King of Scotland. It shows how ambition blinds and consumes him, and greed and glory can completely change who a person is. The show follows Macbeth and how his actions impact his family, friends, and all of Scottland.

Hamlet by William Shakespeare

Another one of Shakespeare’s most well-known shows is Hamlet, a story that follows a prince whose Father recently passed away. His Mother re-married very quickly after, to his Uncle, and it is all having a very heavy toll on Hamlet’s psyche as he admired his Father very much. At the start of the show the King’s ghost is appearing, almost as if haunting Scottland, however it is revealed that he has come back to ask Hamlet for a favor. He needs Hamlet to avenge his death, so blinded by rage and revenge Hamlet begins his quest to kill his Uncle inorder to avenge his Father.

Filed under: Drama, Plays, Shakespeare, Theatre