←Recommendations of Live on National Television

Tennant once again hits it out of the park with another historical, one-act. The family feels real and lived-in while the tension continues to build as each birthday is read off on the television until we reach our heartbreaking conclusion.

Unrelenting tension. The strain is real, natural, and rough from the start. But Alaina Tennant doesn't let up; even when audiences encounter a surprising turn that feels like it should address the conflict, nope, Tennant turns again to break the characters' and the audience's heart.

“Live on National Television” by ALAINA TENNANT is a period in our Nation’s history in which we were in a war with Vietnam and questioning our own sense of what’s necessary and wanted. I was twenty-five years old and eligible for the draft. I was supportive of the notion we were “fighting to defend our Country’s freedom”. I clearly remember the anticipation and anxiety, similar to what is depicted. This play needs to be performed, because history has a way of repeating itself if unchecked.

A tight, intense little family drama that shines a light on an aspect of the Vietnam era. It does exactly what a short play should do--zero in on a tense moment, break the tension and let the characters respond. A lovely piece.

For audiences who don't know the story of the draft lottery, Tennant's script is a chilling, hauntingly beautiful introduction. Interwoven with actual footage, this is a powerful piece of theatre that feels like the story of a real, lived-in family.

I remember the draft lottery. My number was 163. The Vietnam war was raging. To me it was a lottery where the prize was a chance to die. Alaina covered the emotions and options. One alternative many with low numbers selected was dodging or deserting to Canada. When men returned from the war they met with scorn, not thanks for serving.

Alaina Tennant packs a lot of tension and humanity into this short play. Well-developed characters give a ground level perspective to a dark and frightening chapter in American history. Very well done!

This is such a tense and beautifully written play. I felt my heart skip a beat multiple times. The characters are so lovable and I very much enjoyed reading it. Would love to see a production of this.

There is so much running through this short piece about what war does to families across generations & oceans. & seeing it from 2024, we know there is a future generation or 2 or 3 impacted by this moment the way these young people are impacted by (perhaps forced) choices their elders made in impossible times.