A POUND OF FLESH - a modern-day revenge tragedy by Charlotte Cohn & Jason Odell Williams by Jason Odell Williams

Inspired by and in response to Shakespeare's THE MERCHANT OF VENICE and the Tree of Life Synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh, A POUND OF FLESH is a modern-day revenge tragedy about fear, redemption, and what it means to be "the chosen ones." After a shooting takes place at a synagogue in a quiet American suburb, SHIA, an 18 year old Rabbi's daughter with a dark past, decides to seek revenge on...
Inspired by and in response to Shakespeare's THE MERCHANT OF VENICE and the Tree of Life Synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh, A POUND OF FLESH is a modern-day revenge tragedy about fear, redemption, and what it means to be "the chosen ones." After a shooting takes place at a synagogue in a quiet American suburb, SHIA, an 18 year old Rabbi's daughter with a dark past, decides to seek revenge on the white supremacists responsible. She disguises herself as a man and infiltrates the local Atomwaffen chapter (a neo-Nazi group that considers themselves right of the alt-right). There Shia meets FRANK, the son of the man who shot and killed 5 people in the synagogue before shooting himself. Shia convinces Frank to follow her lead on the next steps to "take down the Jews." But Shia secretly plans to carry out the "Four Deaths" as described during Yom Kippur prayer services on the extremist group -- Stoning, Burning, Decapitation, and Strangulation. Complicating matters, Shia's best friend TIKI (short for Tikvah which means "hope" in Hebrew) begins to fall in love with a stranger she met after Friday night services named MILES. Both Tiki and Miles lost a loved one in the shooting. But their bond hides a secret that Shia uncovers when Tiki arrives one night for Shabbat dinner. Will Tiki turn the other cheek as she's begged Shia to do in the past, or will her baser nature be revealed when she has a chance for personal revenge?
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A POUND OF FLESH - a modern-day revenge tragedy by Charlotte Cohn & Jason Odell Williams

Recommended by

  • Jewish Plays Project:
    19 May. 2021
    “ Jewish Plays Project is thrilled that A POUND OF FLESH was a Semi-Finalist for the 10th annual Jewish Plays Contest. Our Semi-Finalists went through a rigorous process in the summer & fall of 2020 where a community of readers searched for plays that spoke to them about Jewish identity in a way that’s bold and challenging, as well as theatrically innovative. After reading 250 plays, A POUND OF FLESH rose to the top 20, and we hope that this play swiftly finds collaborators and opportunities to reach new audiences. ”
  • Cheryl Bear:
    24 Jan. 2021
    “ A powerful look at extremism when violence begets a plan for more violence. A teacher in what we must strive for in order to save this world. Well done. ”

SHIA - 18, female, white, Jewish.
ETHAN - 21, male, white, Jewish. Shia's brother.
TIKI - 18, female, white, Jewish. Shia's best friend.
RABBI - 50s, male, white, Jewish. Shia & Ethan's father.
RACHEL - 40s-50s, female, white Jewish. Shia & Ethan's mother.
DICK - 40s-50s, white, Christian.
FRANK - 22, white, Dick's nephew.
MILES - 20, white, Dick's other nephew.
RICKY - 21, white, Dick's son.
RICHIE - 21, white, Dick's other son, Ricky's twin.
COP - 20s, played by actor playing "Ricky" or "Richie."

DOUBLING OPTIONS:
(productions can double the following roles or allow single actors to play each)
Ricky / Cop
Rabbi / Dick
Ethan / Frank

Awards