Theater work offers dystopian view of Trump's America (Wall Built of Bricks "Made from Fear")

Yahoo News ^ | 3-23-2017 | Javier Tovar

[brucedickinson]

President Donald Trump's chest-thumping nationalism and harsh immigration policies are the subject of a new play depicting an apocalyptic America where stadiums are turned into prisons and people become sick, hungry and frightened.

"Building the Wall," which opened last weekend in Los Angeles, was written by Robert Schenkkan, a two-time Tony winner who co-wrote the screenplay for the Oscar-nominated movie "Hacksaw Ridge."

The play is set in the very near future, after the Trump administration makes good on a pledge to hunt down and arrest millions of unauthorized immigrants by imposing martial law. But things get horribly out of hand.

Schenkkan told AFP that the play is a very personal response to what he sees happening in the United States and many other countries: a "nativist, anti-immigrant, right-wing and proto-fascist" movement.

[brucedickinson]

You might remember this play writer from his role in Star trek the Next Generation. He has gone on to be very successful in Hollywood. In order to be very successful in Hollywood you have to be able to suck a golfball through a garden hose, so this guy must be pretty talented.

"Gloria, played by Judith Moreland, is an African American history professor and Rick -- Bo Foxworth -- is a white Republican from Texas who oversees a privately owned prison and carries out a policy that would be unthinkable today."

In this imaginary future, Trump has been impeached and removed from office, but little is said of the new government -- only that people responsible for abuses are being put on trial, including Rick.

In the play, although he does not appear on stage, the hero is a Latino adolescent held in the prison overseen by Rick.

But the play does leave audience members with a queasy feeling, as the wall is built out of bricks made from fear and isolation.

[Parmy]

Needless to say, I am not fearful. In fact, I am as happy as can be.

[LegendHasIt]

The true title message would be “Wall of steel, made from common sense.”

[brucedickinson]

Someone should tell these libs to keep their panties on. As far as I can tell, Obamacare is still in effect, not a single block has been put on top of another block to build a wall, Comey is still in charge of the FBI etc. etc. So until something ACTUALLY happens, they should take a valium and relax.

[max americana]

“nativist, anti-immigrant, right-wing and proto-fascist” movement.”

This is heaven.

[Impala64ssa]

If this such an important must see play for our time then why are these greedy SOB’S charging admission?

[olezip]

President Donald Trump's chest-thumping nationalism and harsh immigration policies are the subject of a new play depicting an apocalyptic America where stadiums are turned into prisons and people become sick, hungry and frightened.

The only apocalyptic America would be if Hillary continued Obama's repressive policies. Then you and I would be filling stadiums and re-education camps.

Enforcing laws on the books to protect the forgotten man can in no way be described as chest-thumping nationalism.

The writer's talent could be better spent on understanding and depicting the real plight of the forgotten man.

He would have done much better with the Democrat's totalitarianism.

[Rastus]

Glad I never got around to seeing Hacksaw Ridge.

[AndrewB]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HPAtpAelwe4

[Feckless]

I don't care if they make the bricks by compressing the bodies of Criminal Illegal Aliens... as long as they

BUILD the WALL, BOOBYTRAP the WALL, MINE the WALL, PROVIDE CREW SERVED WEAPON INTERLOCKING FIRE COVER to the WALL. Provide CLOSE AIR SUPPORT for the WALL.

[tbw2]

Casting a white guy as evil in darn near every movie is racist. If he’s the good guy, he’s always liberal, flawed in some way (stupid or clumsy) and aided by more competent women.

[cradle of freedom]

Artists live in their imaginations anyway.

[IronJack]

an apocalyptic America where stadiums are turned into prisons and people become sick, hungry and frightened.

Yeah, cuz that's the logical outcome of enforcing a nation's immigration laws.

[SaraJohnson]

Not many normal people will see it. It’s a sjw show.