←Recommendations of Informed Consent

I saw Informed Consent as a playwriting student at Gulfshore Playhouse, three or four years ago. The story is beautifully intricate, and Laufer confronts fears we know well- illness, how to protect our family. It was the first straight play I ever saw, and it set the standards incredibly high.

Laufer's sophisticated script addresses the ethical conflict between the legal principle of informed consent of the title and the utopian dreams of "big data" saving lives generations down the line. Laufer does not stack the deck: the betrayal of trust is tangible but even audiences will leave understanding the motives behind the betrayal. It's also a nuanced meditation on narrative: the history encoded in our DNA, legends that bind a people, children's books, and memories that can be stolen by dementia.

I reviewed the 2017 production by Apollinaire Theatre Company:

http://artsfuse.org...

This is a powerful play which explores difficult topics like colonialism and science with an empathetic, but unflinching voice. I was particularly haunted by the central figure of Jillian, who is as nuanced and sympathetic as she is flawed. An exciting piece that would lend itself to a wide variety of spaces and companies.

This is a wonderful piece. In addition to it's great power as a production if you are someone like me who just likes to curl up and read scripts. I recommend this work. It will stick with you for days and leave you thinking for a long time.

I had the great pleasure of working with Deb on Informed Consent at the 2013 Baltic Playwrights Conference. I was immediately struck by skill with which the story and its tellers are layered, the compassionate heart with which the characters are treated, and the thoughtful inquiry which surrounds the subject matter.