On Clover Road

by Steven Dietz

At an abandoned motel on a desolate American road a mother meets with a cult deprogrammer believing she will be reunited with her runaway daughter. What happens instead - in this smart harrowing edge-of-your-seat thriller - is something that will shock her to her core. What will a mother do to get her daughter back? Whatever it takes.

90 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2015

About the author

Steven Dietz is an American playwright whose work is largely performed regionally, i.e. outside of New York City. Born and raised in Denver, Colorado, Dietz graduated in 1980 with a Theater degree from the University of Northern Colorado. He is the recipient of the PEN U.S.A. Award in Drama (for Lonely Planet); the Kennedy Center Fund for New American Plays Award (Fiction and Still Life With Iris); and the Lila Wallace/Reader's Digest Award (The Rememberer). Halcyon Days is one of his other successful plays. Many of his plays are very political. He lives in Seattle.

Reviews

[Steven · Rating 3 out of 5]

More twists and turns than a country road.

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still processing this one, but it immediately drew me in. The concept is unique, but I do feel like things get...a little busy or confusing 2/3 of the way in. As the playwright says, the show and particularly the "villain" of the show would have to be handled very deliberately and with great care to what the director wants to say with the story.

I really like the final moment with the last characters onstage, but am unsure of how I feel about the ending otherwise. In some ways, I just wish things were a little less twisty and complicated, so that the point could shine through a little more clearly.

Definitely recommend giving it a read!

[Mandee · Rating 4 out of 5]

maybe closer to a 4.5, rounded down because it didn't quite stick the landing for me. overall this is really tight though--i would love to see it staged.