Babel by Jacqueline Goldfinger

“Babel” is a dark comedy set in the near future. Two couples are having trouble getting pregnant and the lengths they go to in order to have a baby raises the specter of eugenics, explores the societal value of a baby, and asks us what we are willing to risk for love. If you like Booker’s “Black Mirror,” Ishiguro’s “Never Let Me Go,” or Haley’s “The Nether,” then this play is for you. It requires four...
“Babel” is a dark comedy set in the near future. Two couples are having trouble getting pregnant and the lengths they go to in order to have a baby raises the specter of eugenics, explores the societal value of a baby, and asks us what we are willing to risk for love. If you like Booker’s “Black Mirror,” Ishiguro’s “Never Let Me Go,” or Haley’s “The Nether,” then this play is for you. It requires four characters (3F,1M) and a flexile set.
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Babel

Recommended by

  • Cheryl Bear:
    28 Jun. 2021
    “ A thought provoking play that goes deep into the process of getting pregnant, technology and the moral questions that arise in society. Well done. ”
  • National New Play Network:
    9 Mar. 2021
    “ Babel by Jacqueline Goldfinger is receiving a National New Play Network Rolling World Premiere. The partnering NNPN Member Theaters are Unicorn Theatre (Kansas City, MO), Theatre Exile (Philadelphia, PA), and two more to be announced. ”
  • Ross Tedford Kendall:
    16 Nov. 2020
    “ A fantastic play that hits so many points square. Babel is so plausible in its conceit, that acts taken in the name of the greater good cause so much pain and trouble, and yet the characters are still conflicted on whether those acts were worth it. This conflict drives the story to a fantastic conclusion. The dialog is great, the characters ring as real humans. This entire play is a masterpiece. ”
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This play is set in a future where genetic testing has become so fine tuned that most -isms (racism, sexism, etc) have been generally replaced with genetic discrimination. Therefore, the casting is very flexible.

Development History

Production History

  • Professional
    ,
    Contemporary American Theatre Festival
    ,
    2022
  • Professional
    ,
    The Constructivists
    ,
    2022
  • Professional
    ,
    Scoundrel and Scamp Theatre
    ,
    2021
  • Professional
    ,
    Red Twist Theatre
    ,
    2021

Awards

Nominee
,
Blackburn Prize
,
2019
Selection
,
The Kilroy's List
,
2019
Selection
,
Independence Foundation Fellowship in the Arts
,
2017
Winner
,
Smith Prize for Political Theatre
,
2017