←Recommendations of ABRAHAM'S DAUGHTERS

Compellingly written and sadly incredibly relevent. Goldman-Sherman's modern Abraham shares many qualities with his Biblical predecessor, including having children from two different nations. The family drama mirrors the conflict between Palestinians and Israelis (and the conflict Jewish Americans feel) with a deft hand that makes it impossible to stop reading. Beautifully structured.

Apparently this play has been around in some form for at least nine years. And yet reading it now, I find the conflicting views between Israelis and Palestinians and among American Jews are as stark as ever. Emma Goldman-Sherman bravely takes on these issues in an intelligent, thoughtful manner in this heartbreaking story. I say bravely because those with entrenched opinions on either side are likely to react strongly. All the more reason for this to be widely read and performed to spark discussion. Well done!

This contemporary re-spinning of the tale of the biblical patriarch & his descendants creates such a perfect theatrical-yet-intimate scale to consider the simultaneous interconnectedness & disparate experiences of Palestinians, Israelis, & American Jews. In our world today, this play feels like an emergency -- & also presents so many reasons to hope & work towards justice & peace & treating each other truly as family, with all the love & obligation & complexity that relationship carries.

The audio version on The Parsnip Ship podcast is well worth a listen for the wonderful performances, musical elements, & interview with the playwright.

This is a poetic and heartbreaking play. Goldman-Sherman uses the structure of a family drama to explore the ongoing conflict between Palestinians and Israelis and the diffuse effects of colonization and individual and group self-determination. Despite the heavy subject, the plot is infused with warmth and humor. I highly recommend this play and hope to see productions of it.

This play is poignant and extremely relevant, using both humor and empathy to explore a difficult topic. Each character provides a unique perspective on a complex situation. Emma Goldman-Sherman is an excellent playwright! Highly recommend.

I loved listening to the performance of this play! It's so thoughtful. In our script club conversation, we talked about it being a period piece now and I think that highlights it's importance even more. Very well structured with moments of comedy and great opportunities to share two different cultures on the stage.

This is a compelling play that people should read, hear, or see. It lands now more than ever. It's incredibly complex, funny, tragic, and moving.

As an Arab-American, this is the type of play I read the synopsis of and cringe. There are no shortage of plays written about Palestine from non-Palestinians. I'm so grateful that I didn't stop there. It's clear that Goldman-Sherman is writing this play with lived experience, understanding, and great care. Each character is so clear, the story seemingly easily weaving between the heartwarming and the heartbreaking, and the price of colonialism striking. What is truly stunning in this piece is the way Goldman-Sherman shows the ways governments pit people's desire for safety and belonging against one another for power. Bravo!

Selected for Angels Theatre Company's Salon Reading Series 2022-23 Peripeteia (October 2022)

The tragic structure of Abraham’s Daughters is robust. Abraham’s tragedy progresses quietly through the actions of his daughters and granddaughters until its forecasted end. We know from the beginning that Abraham will die. However, we realize too late that the tragedy unfolding before us is not that of Abraham, but that of his daughters, and ultimately, that of an entire region. The play thus accomplishes a double peripeteia; Abraham's death accomplishes the classical tragedy while reversing the tragic story to his daughters. It’s marvelous.

What a fantastic play. This exemplifies the power of theater. It speaks volumes about the human condition and the relationships of family, both by blood and by choice. The balance of humor and tragedy brings the whole narrative into a three-dimensional reality. It really raises questions about our personal myths and how we chose to honor or dismiss them. Would love to see it on stage one day.