The Forgotten Language of the Handshake or The Torso Play

by Rachel Bykowski

Welcome to the United Levels, a distant future that is closer than we think. Formally known as the United States of America with parts of Canada and Mexico. Citizens are defined by the amount of debt plaguing their finances and divided by their financial status into Levels. Level 1 being the wealthiest, Level 10 being the poorest. Sachs, a Level 9, uses her position as a Personal Journalist to help bring a sense...

Welcome to the United Levels, a distant future that is closer than we think. Formally known as the United States of America with parts of Canada and Mexico. Citizens are defined by the amount of debt plaguing their finances and divided by their financial status into Levels. Level 1 being the wealthiest, Level 10 being the poorest. Sachs, a Level 9, uses her position as a Personal Journalist to help bring a sense of checks and balances to this capitalist driven future. She will always report the facts objectively, no matter how damning. Sachs finds herself working with an up and coming tech company that promises to bring equality through its questionable medical advances. She is forced to analyze her own moral code when asked how much she would sacrifice to raise her level and what would she charge for a literal piece of herself.

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The Forgotten Language of the Handshake or The Torso Play

Recommended by

  • Brendan Bourque-Sheil: The Forgotten Language of the Handshake or The Torso Play by Rachel Bykowski
    “

    You know that feeling when you’re reading something so stimulating that you keep having to stand up, walk around and just take a swim in the ideas you’ve been given? This play gave me that like four times. Bykowski builds a darkly comical, but frighteningly plausible future, that’s dizzying in its scope, and fascinatingly reflective of the present. The love for Theatre as an art form, and the drive to push that art form forward are vividly on display in every scene from The Torso Play.

    You know that feeling when you’re reading something so stimulating that you keep having to stand up, walk around and just take a swim in the ideas you’ve been given? This play gave me that like four times. Bykowski builds a darkly comical, but frighteningly plausible future, that’s dizzying in its scope, and fascinatingly reflective of the present. The love for Theatre as an art form, and the drive to push that art form forward are vividly on display in every scene from The Torso Play.

    ”
  • David Davila: The Forgotten Language of the Handshake or The Torso Play by Rachel Bykowski
    “

    WOW. I'm completely blown away by this play. This play takes the ideals of a capitalistic world and advances them to their natural conclusion. It's a profound tale that examines the American Dream through the lens of feudalism as we fall in love with these desperate characters who must choose between their ideals and survival... because what could be more capitalistic than that? I am completely and utterly astonished. Bravo!

    WOW. I'm completely blown away by this play. This play takes the ideals of a capitalistic world and advances them to their natural conclusion. It's a profound tale that examines the American Dream through the lens of feudalism as we fall in love with these desperate characters who must choose between their ideals and survival... because what could be more capitalistic than that? I am completely and utterly astonished. Bravo!

    ”
  • Cheryl Bear: The Forgotten Language of the Handshake or The Torso Play by Rachel Bykowski
    “

    A powerful look at the potential future of a country citizens plagued by capitalism, debt and what we would do to find equality for the public or a better situation for ourselves. Well done.

    A powerful look at the potential future of a country citizens plagued by capitalism, debt and what we would do to find equality for the public or a better situation for ourselves. Well done.

    ”
View all 5 recommendations

Character Information

PRODUCTION NOTE:
The commercial breaks and any advertisements that appear on the upstage screen, do require some pre-production work. The ads should be pre-recorded using different actors than what we see on stage. The ads are there to help showcase the world of the play. Therefore, inclusive casting is necessary. Unless specified, the ads should show a full range of people, identities, and sexual orientations. I wrote the basic direction I want the footage to take, but left enough room for you to fill in the gaps.
  • Sachs
    30's
    Any
    Cisgender Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • Mac
    17
    Any
    Non-binary
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Non-binary
  • Sarah
    40's
    Any
    Cisgender Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      40s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • Guidance
    Guidance is a computer simulation/advanced AI. Ageless but young-looking, programmed female.
    Please note that all voiceovers are voiced by Guidance. The actor playing Guidance should use different voices/personalities for each voiceover. These voices include:
    -Experiment Announcement Voiceover
    -Beach Voiceover
    -LifeScroll Voiceover
    -Infection Door Alarm Voice
    -Teachers Voiceover (T.V.)
    -Marathon Announcer
    -Vacation Voiceover
    -Retract Voiceover
    Any
    Any
    Computer Simulation/AI - Programmed Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female

Awards

  • 2020 Risk Theatre Modern Tragedy Playwriting Competition
    Risk Theatre
    Semi-Finalist
    2020