Through satirical send-ups of Television Network News, advertising and a Game Show, THINGY WORLD! or HOW WE GOT TO WHERE WE ARE exposes America's self-centered, all consuming materialistic way of life and how it has created a culture of waste and destruction which in turn has helped create climate change and global warming. The play also exposes the ways in which racism and the inequitable distribution of wealth are integral parts of "the environmental crisis."

The play takes place in 1991--immediately after the great victory in Iropistan--on a TV Newsroom set with Tina Newsworthy and all the O.W.O.W. TV News Fantasy 90 reporters and staff, including weatherman--Barometer Bob, Periodicals Reporter--Luigi Magazini, and Fine Arts and High Culture Reporter--Nigel Fitchingfield. They give us the news, special reports from The All American Toy Fair, two exclusive interviews with The President as he discusses the great victory in Iropistan and what it means for the Free Market Economy, an exclusive interview with Mimi Mebaby, Editor-in-Chief of Self Now magazine and so on. 

The play then moves to the set of THINGY WORLD, everybody's favorite Game Show--where "you get what you want if you want it bad enough and where we always say 'The one with the most toys at the end, wins!'"--and starring game show host, Stan "The Man" Fanofferly--with Lily White, Big Guy, Martha Greed and The THINGY WORLD! singers and dancers.

The play then returns to OWOW-TV for The Noontime News: What's New in the News Behind the News at Noon.

There are also commercials for the Elegante Magnifico, "a Luxmobile for you," McKing Burger, Coaxie, the Operation Iropistan Commemorative Knife and Rifle Barrel, etc. plus a public service announcement.

THINGY WORLD!: HOW WE GOT TO WHERE WE ARE is a funny, over-the-top, satirical look at American greed and racism and how "the American way" has contributed to our environmental crisis.

The play calls for an ensemble of variable size plus prerecorded and live music. Running time: about 60 minutes in one act and is especially suited for staged readings.

PRODUCTION HISTORY

Rehearsed Staged Reading, Vermont Contemporary Playwrights Forum, Harwood Union High School Stage, East Duxbury, VT, June 18, 2008

Austin Peay State University, Clarksville, TN, November 13-17, 1991

Plays in Progress Production, Trinity College, Burlington, VT, June 14, 15, 16, 1990

In House Reading, American Conservatory Theatre, San Francisco, CA, January 19, 1990

Literary and Theatrical Agent: Susan Schulman, The Susan Schulman Literary Agency, 454 West 44th Street New York, NY 10036 phone: (212) 713-1633 fax: (212) 581-8830 Schulman@aol.com

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Last updated: 7/13/2008