THE STORY: It is the day before Labor Day, 1990, four months before the Gulf War and the Robinsons are having a barbecue. Jason, the prodigal son who’s been in the Navy since a violent confrontation with his father, has just called from the airport, announcing that he’s on his way home. Jason’s family—his parents Jack and Irene, his sisters Jeanann, Maureen and Peggy, and Aunt Bernice and Uncle George—await his arrival as they drink, fight, joke, sing Girl Scout songs, threaten each other with playing Charades and otherwise stake out their territories. Jason arrives with presents for his family from around the world, and a freshly killed pig in the garbage bag to roast, creating a stir at the party and forcing emotions to rise. After Santos, the next door neighbor, casts doubt as to what’s really in the garbage bag, Jason takes his family hostage and forces them at gun point to play a life and death game of Charades.
“A compelling realistic portrait of a working-class family.” —Backstage.
“A gut wrenching, teeth clenching drama.” —CurtainUp.
