Theater Thursday - It Can't Happen Here and Conscience

 Today we are highlighting two important shows that everyone should experience before election day especially anyone who hasn't voted yet and/or hasn't even decided which candidate to vote for.

What: It Can't Happen Here

Where: Available as a radio play at www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzJI9T7Pcjk&t=4s

Who: Anyone of voting age

When: Through November 8, 2020

It Can't Happen Here is a novel by Sinclair Lewis about how a demagogue gets elected President and plays on people's fears which eventually leads to the total breakdown of society. Interestingly enough, the book was written in 1935 before World War II had even happened. However, it was very timely and prescient.

In 2016, on the cusp of the Presidential election when no one thought that Donald Trump was actually going to be elected, it was adapted as a play and presented by Berkley Rep. Again it proved to be very timely and prescient.

Now, once again on the cusp of a Presdential election, the show is being presented by Berkeley Rep this time as a radio play available to all on YouTube through November 8, 2020. It should be required listening for all of us. Because we all need to be reminded that things are not necessarily as bad as they can get. The time for sitting on the sidelines is past. We all need to decide what kind of country we want to live and take steps to assure that it will be so. We can start by voting in the upcoming election if we haven't already and voting carefully and with great thought as to the future of our country and even our own lives.

It Can't Happen Here is available for free through November 8, 2020. For more information or to listen go to www.berkeleyrep.org/season/2021/itcanthappenhere.asp or www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzJI9T7Pcjk&t=4s.

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What: Conscience 

Where: Available for Streaming at https://georgestreetplayhouse.org/

Who: Teens and above

When: October 27 - 30

Conscience unlike It Can't Happen Here is not just conjecture about how bad it can get. It is about actual events that occured in this country. It take place in the 1950s when the Red Scare led by Senator Joseph McCarthy was rampant and the only one who dared to stand up to him was fellow Senator, Margaret Chase Smith. 

Conscience was in the middle of a run at the George Street Playhouse when the theaters shut down back in March. Now the exquisite original cast has been reunited to create a virtual version of the show which will be available for streaming from October 27 -30.  

For more about Conscience see our original review of the show at Theater Thursday - Conscience. To purchase a ticket to view the show go to georgestreetplayhouse.org/consciencevirtual There is a suggested donation of $25.00 per ticket. However, any amount of $5.00 and above is acceptable. For more information go to georgestreetplayhouse.org.

And that's our view. If you haven't already done so, please vote!

Tune in Sunday for this week's Sunday Scoop.

Photo credit: Conscience production photo by T. Charles Erickson