14th Play - 7/14/23 - WROL (Without Rule of Law) by Michaela Jeffery

Summary: "In the garage of her suburban duplex, twelve-year-old Josephine makes apocalypse preparedness videos and posts them to YouTube. Vic takes Jujitsu. Maureen encrypts her text messages and hordes matches (because lighters fail). Sarah stuffs her knapsack with extra socks, granola, water filtration tablets and Tolkien novels, because ‘you don’t know where you’re going to be... when it happens... you might not be at home.’ Convinced the world at large can’t be trusted to prioritize the well-being of adolescent girls in the event of a cataclysmic event (or just in general), this determined troupe of 8th grade ‘doomers’ are committed to preparing for survival in the post - collapse society they anticipate inheriting. Judy Blume meets Rambo, WROL (Without Rule of Law) is a darkly comic coming-of-age story for complicated times.” (Michaela Jeffery)

Loved: I loved that there were four strong women in this play. Well, technically they are girls, 8th grade girls, although the playwright notes that they don’t have be played by women of “appropriate” age, which is fabulous! I loved that these were unique girls who were questioning the world around them - curious about things that adults didn't want them to be curious about. The section about why the girls defected from the Girl Guides was quite stunning, and poignant. They didn't want to get badges for doing things that they didn't feel were “useful.” Maureen states, "I’m talking about rewarding girls for not being difficult, and distracting them with praise for pursuing things that aren’t accomplishments." Since the 2016 election I've been thinking a lot about women being labeled as "difficult." People call me that sometimes, but do they call the men that? No, they're just being men, whatever the hell that means. I love that the play speaks to the fact that at age 12, these girls are already aware of the misogyny in the world. Jo prophesies to the one boy in the group: "For you, Robbie, the world probably won’t get shittier. Or if it does, it won’t have any direct effect on your life." And, towards the end of the play Jo says to him: "I behave like a human being, who is so exhausted by being told that if I just behave better, I’ll earn the right to the kind of audience you already have before you ever open your mouth. Behave. YOU DON’T THINK I’VE TRIED THAT? For years and years. Waited my turn and raised my hand and it doesn’t CHANGE ANYTHING – behaving – just makes me easier to ignore." Wow. Nice feminist writing. I think my favorite character was Sarah, who was obsessed with Harry Potter and the Chronicles of Narnia. When asked why she has novels in her EDC (Everyday carry - a survival kit in case the world should go into apocalypse while you're out and about) instead of important supplies like water filtration tablets and matches, Sarah says, "I think I would give up, if I couldn’t remember why I wanted to survive." That line really hit home for me - what is the point of being alive if you can't live in the wonderful fantasy of reading? Okay, so I clearly identify with her story… The play is funny too, mostly the truthful bickering that teens do when scared and trying to pretend they're not. I really loved Maureen's "apology" (not apology) speech that is hilarious, to atone for for her, Jo and Sarah causing a panic at the school Fall Fair. The speech is then followed by a physical altercation between Maureen and with the school's Bear mascot. So, it's not all deep, but there's a lot underneath the humor in this play.

What I didn’t Love: I felt like the play was too short - I was just getting really attached to the characters and the story when it ended. I usually think plays are too long, so ... But I want to know more about each of the girls, and more about Robbie. Why is he the only guy? Why is he more scared than the rest of them? The playwright hints at a possible attraction to Maureen, but we never really see it. It's too easy for him to be less interesting because he's the only guy. I'd just love to see more about all of them - I feel like the play just scratches the surface on some very interesting characters. Vic has a powerful story that we only find out about at the last minute, and Jo goes through something really serious with the school and the police, which is a bit confusing, and I'd love some more clarity on that, but all of those important issues are tossed aside for the ending. I don't dislike the ending, as a matter of fact, I really like it, but I would have liked a little more meat before we got there.

Overall: This play was a quick and easy read, and enjoyable. A little too quick, I think. As I mentioned, I would like a little more about each of the characters before the play suddenly ends. That being said, the four girls are each very interesting and distinct, and the one boy, Robbie, sort of serves to be a bit of an antagonist, or at least the representation of what all the girls don't get in their lives that boys, just by the virtue of being born into a privileged gender, do get. If casting, I feel like Robbie almost has to be white, but maybe there's a good argument for not making him white that I don't see right now. The play is enjoyable and the lessons (and feminism!) come with a dose of humor. Also, I really enjoyed the writing - there are some wonderfully poignant lines about how girls are treated. I would definitely enjoy being a part of this production or going to see it.

Here’s a link to Google Sheets with more info about the play: Play a Day Sheet