Monkey House Productions is proud to announce the Los Angeles opening of our new theatrical production; The 31/62…a Patriot Act, at the Met Theatre November 11th and 12th, 2005.
This three-act play of patriotism applies the laws of House Resolution 3162 (also known as the USA Patriot Act) to the Bush administration.
The 31/62 is as much a dark political satire as it is an educational performance piece: many of the actors lines are direct quotes from members of the Bush Administration, and all charges and references to the Patriot Act come directly from HR 3162.
All shows in L.A. and Santa Monica are free; all show times are 7:30 p.m. A late show on each night may be added if there is a line.
Schedule for The 31/62…a Patriot Act:
Friday, November 11th and Saturday, November 12th, 2005:
The Met Theatre 1089 N. Oxford Ave. Los Angles, CA 90029 (323) 957-1152
Friday, December 9th and Saturday, December 10th, 2005: The Morgan-Wixson Theatre, Santa Monica, CA 2627 Pico Blvd. Santa Monica, CA 90405 (310) 828-7519
Synopsis- The 31/62…a Patriot Act
House Resolution 3162 is the bill number of the USA Patriot Act, passed by Congress October 25, 2001.
The 31/62 is a theatrical exploration of the Bush administration in relation to the Patriot Act. The play begins with the arrest and imprisonment of George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, Condoleezza Rice and Donald Rumsfeld for gross violations of the Patriot Act.
While imprisoned, these politicians are visited by different apparitions: Cheney meets Che Guevara, Bush meets a fallen fire fighter, Rumsfeld meets Saddam Hussein, and Rice meets a Muslim woman. The play culminates in the trial of these four politicians based on the provisions of the Patriot Act.
The primary focus of The 31/62 is to examine the conventional definitions of terrorism, accountability and the application of the law. This play aims to educate audiences about the Bush administration and the actual language of the Patriot Act. To this end, many of the actors' lines are direct quotes from their portrayed characters and all charges they face come directly from the USA Patriot Act.
A projector will accompany the performance with images in order to enhance certain points of reference.
About The 31/62…a Patriot Act
From the Playwright:
"America and the world experienced a paradigm shift on the morning of September 11th, 2001. Globally, the Bush administration started a 'war on terror' and domestically it implemented the USA Patriot Act. These actions are intrinsically related and should not be separated either on stage or in every day life.
Much of what has been written about Bush, Afghanistan, Iraq, September 11th and the Patriot Act has been examined individually. Approaching the stage as society, theatre must integrate and challenge modern day rhetoric, events and values as a whole. In relation to The 31/62, this means, first, a primary exploration of the term 'terrorism,' then moves on to explore what is it, who defines it and who applies it.
From February to April of 2004, I studied House Resolution 3162. Each day I read, viewed and researched information on the Bush administration. It became clear that this administration was publicly breaking the very laws they created under the Patriot Act. The next step was to study how the consent of the masses, the terms of the debate, and the delivery of justice are carried out in our modern-day American reality. What happens to this reality when you put it on stage? Who will judge the judges?
My intention for this piece is to create a dialogue between the audience and the communities in which it is performed. I hope The 31/62 will establish a starting point for people to discuss these questions."
From the Director:
"As terrorism is increasingly at the forefront of concerns for all citizens of the world, so must the issues and conflicts that gave birth to these movements. The suggestion that the terror strikes which breached the borders of America on September 11th were the result of evil hatred for our freedom is simplistic, childish and an insult to both logic and history. As America continues to forcefully assert itself as the dominant global superpower, it must pay close attention to how this force is felt across the globe.
Perhaps one of the greatest crisis facing the world today is the rampant lack of accountability from those in positions of leadership. From the global scale to the local scene, public servants seem to focus only on serving themselves and large corporations.
If any change is to occur it must start from within the individuals of society. As Western citizens of the Western world, each of us must ask ourselves- how am I accountable? The time has come for 'trickle-down accountability;' if the power elite were required to carry their burden of responsibility and accountability the perhaps the meek will truly inherit the Earth. This play is a leap in that direction."
From the Multi-Media Director:
"Fascism is alive and well in the Bush Administration and the larger Republican Party. The Neo-Con movement is not really all that new. With regard to International Relations, they are running around like extremely myopic bulls in a china shop. Their shortsightedness is perhaps the most appalling aspect, but their greed, cronyism and disdain for the American People is truly criminal.
In The 3162 we arrests these crooks for violations of their own USA Patriot Act--it's a lot of fun; however, my greatest hope is that they are drummed out of office and extradited to The Hague to stand trial for war crimes. This new century must not be run by the same types of greedy, blood-thirsty, racist cretins that made the Twentieth Century so incredibly violent. Justice and Peace must prevail or I fear for our species."
About Monkey House Productions
Mission Statement:
Monkey House Productions (MHP) is a progressive community-based multi-media production company formed in March 2003 in response to what was seen as an absence of progressive arts in Southern California in general and Ventura County in particular.
Monkey House Productions aims to promote awareness of social, political, environmental and economic issues through the arts.
