Rift, or White Lies

by Gabriel Jason Dean

Two brothers--one a progressive novelist, the other a convicted murderer and high-ranking member of a white supremacist prison gang–are united through their traumatic childhood. Now adults, these men navigate the edges of their brotherly bond. Are they truly so different? Is it possible to love someone whose beliefs you hate? RIFT is a story of estrangement, ideological divide, and the fight to change our world...

Two brothers--one a progressive novelist, the other a convicted murderer and high-ranking member of a white supremacist prison gang–are united through their traumatic childhood. Now adults, these men navigate the edges of their brotherly bond. Are they truly so different? Is it possible to love someone whose beliefs you hate? RIFT is a story of estrangement, ideological divide, and the fight to change our world.

A work of fiction, RIFT, or White Lies is inspired by playwright Gabriel Jason Dean’s relationship with his brother, a currently-incarcerated high-level member of the alt-right. The two had been estranged since Dean’s discovery of his brother’s affiliation in 2010. In creating the piece, Dean reconnected with his brother to explore the roots of their ideological differences and try to find common ground.

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Rift, or White Lies

Recommended by

  • Elana Gartner: Rift, or White Lies

    I got to experience this play from the time that it was a multi-week text communication with audiences and then again staged at Luna Stage. This is a powerful, important play examining the relationship between two brothers on opposite sides of ideologies. They make the decision to try to understand each other for the purpose of a book, but also to help repair their relationship. In the process, the audience learns about what else binds them together. A poignant, timely, phenomenal play that all audiences will identify with!

    I got to experience this play from the time that it was a multi-week text communication with audiences and then again staged at Luna Stage. This is a powerful, important play examining the relationship between two brothers on opposite sides of ideologies. They make the decision to try to understand each other for the purpose of a book, but also to help repair their relationship. In the process, the audience learns about what else binds them together. A poignant, timely, phenomenal play that all audiences will identify with!

  • Nick Malakhow: Rift, or White Lies

    A troubling, essential work that examines white supremacy, class conflict, abuse, and family in a head-on yet nuanced fashion. We increasingly see the "inside" brother's humanity as we begin to see the flaws in "outside" brother's narrative, and that murky navigation is deftly handled. Most importantly, our understanding of each character's life is done without exploiting or manipulating Black characters. The capitalist, opportunistic forces that maintain white supremacy are fully explored in the flawed white characters onstage. I'd love to see this staged.

    A troubling, essential work that examines white supremacy, class conflict, abuse, and family in a head-on yet nuanced fashion. We increasingly see the "inside" brother's humanity as we begin to see the flaws in "outside" brother's narrative, and that murky navigation is deftly handled. Most importantly, our understanding of each character's life is done without exploiting or manipulating Black characters. The capitalist, opportunistic forces that maintain white supremacy are fully explored in the flawed white characters onstage. I'd love to see this staged.

Development History

Production History

Awards

  • National Day of Racial Healing Featured Project
    Selection
    2022