The Tragedy of the Commons: three plays

by Stephen Metcalfe

The Tragedy of the Commons is a collection of three new plays written by playwright, Stephen Metcalfe. Set in the early 2000's, A Word of Their Own is the story of three US active duty Marines as told by the young woman who loves them. The Jewel is a dystopian comedy set at a dinner party in the not too distant future - what happens when a lustrous orb in the sky begins to flicker and threatens to go out. The Tragedy of the Commons is about a retired high school teacher, now avid blogger, whose life begins to crumble when he is faced with the loss of his home. To quote the author; “Plays are written to be produced, to be seen by an audience with actors on a stage. But they’re also written to be read by the individual. To be read out loud in a living room by a theatre group. To be done in an acting class and to be used for auditions. He hopes these so inspire.”

Paperback

About the author

Stephen Metcalfe’s writing career has encompassed theater, film and fiction. His first novel, THE TRAGIC AGE, was published by St. Martin’s Press in March of 2015. His second novel, THE PRACTICAL NAVIGATOR, will be released by St. Martin’s in August, 2016. He has also written a fantasy novel both for children and the child in ever adult, THE WELL OF EVERY AFTER, that he will self publish in 2017. His stage plays include LOVES & HOURS, VIKINGS, STRANGE SNOW, SORROWS AND SONS, PILGRIMS, HALF A LIFETIME, EMILY, WHITE LINEN, THE INCREDIBLY FAMOUS WILLY RIVERS, WHITE MAN DANCING, A WORLD OF THEIR OWN and THE GIFT TELLER. He has been produced in New York and at regional theaters throughout the United States as well as in Europe and Japan. Screen credits include HALF A LIFETIME, COUSINS (with Isabella Rossellini and Ted Danson), JACKNIFE (with Robert De Niro and Ed Harris), ROOMMATES, EL ABUELO and BEAUTIFUL JOE (with Billy Connelly and Sharon Stone). He also wrote the production drafts of PRETTY WOMAN, ARACHNOPHOBIA, IT COULD HAPPEN TO YOU, DANGEROUS MINDS, THE MARRYING MAN and MR. HOLLAND’S OPUS. Other screenplays include TIME FLIES, THE OLD BOY, JONAH, THE INFIELD, THE HARROWER, SCYLLA, PASSING FANCY, ROCK, PAPER, BONE and AN INNOCENT ABROAD.


He is an Associate Artist at The Old Globe Theatre in San Diego and has been an adjunct professor in dramatic writing at University of California at San Diego, University of San Diego and San Diego State University.