This. Is. So. Good.
The Lottery was one of the first horror stories I ever read and it freaked me out. Never Again by Donna Hoke imagines the creative process that gripped Shirley Jackson, a young mother juggling babies and her creative writing. It was fascinating to be a fly on the wall of sorts as the male editors tried to figure this story out, and then the great touch with the rocks coming in with complaints from New Yorker readers who demanded to stop their subscriptions. Truly awesome and truly original!

In NEVER AGAIN by Donna Hoke, the world of 'The Lottery' opens up even more about the values we hold dear, scapegoating, and a mob mentality. As a fan of the original short story, I was so engrossed in the world that Hoke created in this play, meeting the author and those in her publishing circle. Facing the same issues that also resonate in the short story, NEVER AGAIN navigates the connected themes with both subtlety and a sharp focus. This play is a great companion piece to the short story and wonderful art on its own.

A fascinating piece of literary history we never knew as Shirley Jackson faces an unbelievable amount of controversy for writing a story people didn't understand. Well done.