RAFETUS
Recommended by
- Ian W. Hill:2 Apr. 2018“ Lovely and sad work, inventive in structure, language and action, that excellently mixes the worlds of human and turtle at a level both realistic and magical all at once. Deals with moral questions while never being didactic -- everything is integrated into the characters and their actions. Eminently stageable. ”
- Jordan Ramirez Puckett:2 Feb. 2018“ This highly theatrical play tells the story of two Yangtze giant softshell turtles and the team of scientists who are trying desperately to keep this species from extinction. This beautiful and moving play presents morally complicated questions about animal nature and reproductive rights. I was thoroughly engaged with the story and the characters the whole time. I hope to see a production of this play soon. ”
- Eugene O'Neill Theater Center:5 Sep. 2017“ It is the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center's pleasure to recommend Ali Skye Bennet and their play Rafetus as a finalist for our 2017 National Playwrights Conference. The play rose through a competitive, anonymous, multileveled selection process that took nearly nine months to execute. As one finalist out of hundreds of submissions, the strength of this play’s writing has allowed this work to prosper in such a competitive selection process. ”
Character Information
- China Girl20-30s to play 80+ years old,,Any Race/EthnicityFemaleThe last surviving female Yangtze Giant Softshell Turtle (scientific name: Rafetus swinhoei). Small but tough.
- LeoLate 30s-Early 40s to play 100+ years old,,Any Race/EthnicityMaleThe last male Yangtze Giant Softshell Turtle in China (scientific name: Rafetus swinhoei). Physically larger than China Girl, a “gentle giant.”
- Soft (“Emily Ash”)Mid 20s-Early 30s,,Vietnamese-AmericanFemaleHuman scientist
- Eyes (“William Chen”)Mid 20s-Early 30s,,ChineseMaleHuman scientist, wears glasses
- Rough (“Bryan Powell”)30s,,White, AmericanMaleHuman scientist
- Dr. Long (“Dr. Josef Koehler”)50+,,White, EuropeanMaleHead human scientist, European (Austrian, German, Hungarian, or Swiss), tall.
- Prime Minister, Zoo Patrons, Press, OthersVarious,,AsianFemalePlays various ages and multiple Asian nationalities, including Vietnamese and Chinese.
- Dong Mo, Zoo Patrons, Press, OthersVarious,,Any Race/Ethnicity Except WhiteMalePlays various ages and multiple ethnicities (except white), including - briefly - a Yangtze giant softshell turtle.
- Zoo Patrons, Press, OthersVarious,,Any Race/EthnicityAny genderPlays various characters of non-specific genders, ages, and races/ethnicities
Development History
- ,Residency,National Winter Playwrights Retreat (HBMG Foundation)2018
Production History
- ,Workshop,29-Hour Workshop with Two Invited Presentations2018
- ,Workshop,Closed 10-hour workshop, independently produced2017
Awards
Selection
National Winter Playwrights Retreat
HBMG Foundation
2018
Finalist
2018 Spring Submissions
The Dare Tactic
2018