(For production by Professional Groups, College/University Groups, Community Groups, LDS Church Groups)
On the weekend of an LDS general conference, the Robison family’s three oldest children, now living away from home, have come together to celebrate the missionary farewell of their youngest brother Billy. They are also concerned about their father Arthur who, they discover, is dying of cancer. Despite their desire for an agreeable reunion, the older children’s misfortunes, grievances and mutual antagonisms soon rise to the surface: Chris, an airline stewardess, maintains a clandestine liaison with her pretended fiancé, a married man. Wayne, a school teacher, who did not complete his mission, is sour about people in the church and ready to abandon his career and family. Jerold, a prosperous broker and active churchman, resents the others’ “liberality,” while his doctrinaire manner has alienated his own teenage son, who recently left home. While fretting over the many surface manifestations that all is not right in their children’s lives, Arthur’s wife Mildred tries to put a pleasant face on things. In turn, Arthur maintains a stoic and tolerant facade. Wayne and Jerold finally square off with a classic debate that touches upon practically every area of controversy that was ever argued between Mormons. This triggers Arthur’s reminiscence about his earlier days as a seminary teacher, an oil stock fraud, his brother Fred’s consequent suicide, and even his first son Larry’s death in Vietnam—all somehow related. Disillusioned by the cumulative spirit of contention and incrimination, Billy shocks the others in the presence of the home teachers by threatening not to serve his mission. The family’s feelings of alienation and despair reach a turning point only after Arthur breaks down at the announcement that the man he has all along blamed for his own misfortune is a newly appointed General Authority. As Arthur admits that he is unforgiving and has all along tried to manipulate his children, they feel freer to recognize their own shortcomings and to become reconciled. Arthur’s remorse prompts Billy to forget his own bitterness and to console his father. Arthur then asks his sons to give him a blessing, and, as they do so, Mildred and Chris looking on, all are reunited. None of their problems is fully resolved: Billy is still unsure if he will embark on a mission, but the atmosphere is one of peace and mutual compassion, of budding faith. And there is hope.
The play contains some mild language that can be edited. But the situations of a family in crisis cannot be mitigated, except through the exploration by the characters on the stage. It is through that catharsis that the audience will find their questions, and maybe be able to answer them.
PLAY DETAILS:
- 2 hours
- 5M 2W 1Teenboy
- 1 Interior
- Order # 2017
Available for ALL producing groups.
PERUSAL MATERIALS
- The PERUSAL PAGES FILE for Reunion is available by clicking ReunionPERUSALPAGES. The file is in PDF format and contains the first act of the play.
- This and other plays by Thomas F. Rogers may be read in the new publication: The Plays of Thomas F. Rogers Volume 3 : Crises In Faith (the SEVEN plays included are: Huebener, Fire In The Bones, First Trump, Set Apart, The Anointed (a musical theatre play), and Petunia Passes (a short play) PLUS Reunion. You can purchase the seven play volume, Crises In Faith for $16.00 (saving $3.99 off the list price) and getting to read all seven of Tom Rogers’ plays about the Latter-day Saints. A great way for inexpensive perusing!
REHEARSAL MATERIALS AVAILABLE
- Script in PDF format — Order #2017a : $25.00 (from which you will be authorized to copy for your production)
- First Performance Ward/Stake/Amateur/Educational Royalty — Order #2017d : $75
- Second Performance Ward/Stake/Amateur/Educational Royalty — Order #2017e : $65
- Professional Performance License can be granted by filling out the Performance License Application: No production rights can be granted until this application is filled out and sent to us. This is a filler form that after you click “SUBMIT” will send directly to our email address. Response averages 2-3 business days.
PRODUCTIONS:
- Logan 34th Ward –1981
- Premiere at BYU — 1980
This title is available exclusively from
