New Plays from Italy, Vol. 2

Includes: We Decided to Go Because We Don't Want to Be a Burden to Youby Daria Deflorian & Antonio Tagliarini Edited byFrank Hentschker,Translated byMaria Galante "We realized that we are a weight to the state, doctors, pharmacistsand society. So we decided we'll be off, to spare you further worry. You'll save our four pensions and you'll live better." The play takes place in a suburban apartment where the women have just takentheir "sleeping" pills. A reflection on suicide not as an existential act, but as an extreme political act. Is there an altruistic suicide? The Healerby Michele Santeramo Edited byFrank Hentschker,Translated byAllison Eikerenkoetter A drunken nearly blind old healer, with an intellectual son waiting to surpass him, attempts to heal an injured boxer, a pregnant woman, and a childless couple by bringing them together, makingthem relate in strange circumstances on a set where doors open and close on mysterious waiting rooms. The Neighborsby Fausto Paravidino Edited byFrank Hentschker,Translated byJane House He is alone in the apartment. He hears some footsteps coming from the landing. Trying not to make a sound, he looks through the spyhole. He tells Greta when she comes home that he saw the neighbors. How were they? He cannot tell, seeing is not understanding, but he is scared. Why?Who knows? This is a play about our fears, real and imagined, about ourselves and the other,about neighbors near and far, about war.