Scarcity

by Lucy Thurber

In a small town in Western Massachusetts, the Lawrence family struggles with poverty, boredom and lost potential. Into this isolated town comes Ellen, a highly educated, wealthy and well-traveled young woman who wants to give back to her country through education. She starts teaching in the public high school where Billy and Rachel Lawrence go, and she develops an obsession with Billy's intelligence, insight and potential. Her obsession and desire to lift Billy out of poverty tears the family apart.

Genres: Plays, Theatre

57 pages, Paperback

First published December 30, 2008

Reviews

[Jenny King-Modlin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yikes. Full of cheap stereotypes, awkward dialogue, strange structure rhythms. All the inappropriate sexual content, classism, curse words, alcoholism, etc you could think of and this play still has little to say. The kids are compelling at times, but not enough.

[Dakota Jones · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lots of strange things with this. The 11 year old daughter doesn’t read as that young. There was a lot of weird energy and it felt like the playwright didn’t know what she wanted to do with some of the characters. Why is Gloria there again? She offers nothing to the story.

[Cody Roecker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this but it also made me supremely uncomfortable... I'm gonna be researching this play for my dramaturgy project.

[Mitchell Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, I wish I got to do this play when I was the right age to play the teenage boy character. Stirring, alarming, and so honest. Loved it.

[Lizzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finally used an ancient Drama Book Store gift that Shannon gave me. Good.

Hm. I expected more from this one. The play uses so many ingredients I love, which is probably why it was disappointing that it feels like a normal play and not an awesome play. The material is capable of a lot, but here it mainly didn't surprise me. The first time you see everybody, you see the reasons they're made the way they are and how they'll affect each other. The elements kind of stand in their spots, doing their jobs. Move into position, create a contrast here or there. Then back.

The one surprising scene of major weirdness between Billy and Miss Roberts at least was unpredictable. But I guess I just didn't like it. I'm not sure why we had to see them do that, or what was different after.

I liked little moments, like when their mom looks at a FAFSA for the first time and makes herself do it. And 11-year-old Rachel also made me want to finally get around to reading the neglected Persuasion: "Because it's about waiting and then being rewarded for waiting." All her lines are the best, and she has pretty much the clearest presence.

The strongest theme is Billy's violent impulses. It's sad and frustrating. He's desperate to avoid being dangerous, but not really stopping himself either. He's got a little sadism, a lot of self-interest. And it's particularly good in retrospect, knowing that this came second to the play Stay, where the children are adults. I read them in "canon" order, but I can see the benefit of following the author's line of thought in creating these people, in sowing seeds.

And I'd totally, totally, totally be excited if there was more for them to be in.

[Playwright42]

Screw August: Osage County. This is phenomenally better.