Synopsis
In 1980, Molly Rush, a Pittsburgh housewife and mother of six, walked into a G.E. plant in King of Prussia, Penn., and took a hammer to the nose cone of a nuclear warhead in protest of the buildup of our nuclear arsenal. She and her fellow activists, The Plowshares Eight, including Daniel and Philip Berrigan, went to trial to sound the alarm, and the world was pulled back from the brink of nuclear annihilation for the time being. Molly’s Hammer is the fictionalized story of these events, inspired by the book Hammer of Justice by Liane Ellison Norman. Told with humor and love through the competing narratives of Molly and her working-class husband, Bill, Molly’s Hammer shines a light on how the choice of ordinary people to take action is what is needed to save our world.
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Details
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Status
In stock
- Type of Show Full-length Play
- Product Code MQ7000
- Cast Size 3
- Min. Royalty Rate $90/perf
- Cost $10.95
- Approx. Run Time 90 min
Categories
- Target Audience High School | College and Adult | Senior Adults
- Performing Group College Theatre | Community Theatre | Professional Theatre
- Genre Drama
- ISBN(13) 9781619591554
Media Reviews
“A remarkable play that teaches you how to fear again in order to make you feel what's at risk if you don't take your chance to live.” —Riverfront Times
“Deep and thought-provoking. … Based on real life events.” —PLAYBACK:stl
“The main takeaways from the show are faith vs. fanaticism and the price of civil disobedience vs. accepting the societal norm of turning a blind eye.” —PLAYBACK:stl
“Molly and her hammer vs. the nose cone of a warhead is a perfect example of a very inspiring underdog.” —PLAYBACK:stl
“As someone who appreciates the beauty of dialogue, this show was a virtual buffet of delicious morsels.” —PLAYBACK:stl
“The story is fascinating … one I won’t forget for a very long time.” —PLAYBACK:stl
“Gripping drama. … Could not be more timely.” —Stage Left
“Deserves to be seen and debated.” —Stage Left
“[Tammy Ryan] does a solid job in showing the complexities of Molly Rush, a ‘normal’ citizen whose conscience helped make a difference in the world.” —Ladue News
“Ryan’s writing is sophisticated … enabling the audience to draw its own conclusions.” —Ladue News
“Molly’s Hammer succeeds in bringing clarity to the back story of one of the core members of the Plowshares Eight—everyday people who made a signature statement about a worldwide issue.” —Ladue News
“If we don't know our own history, we're surely doomed to repeat it. That makes Molly’s Hammer both special and important. It's a reminder that individuals can make a difference.” —Broadway World
“People who make a stand are becoming rarer and rarer to find. Maybe that's why a play like Tammy Ryan's Molly’s Hammer … is so important.” —Broadway World
“A quiet success, unleashing warmth and light and energy from an alternate Hollywood universe, and speaking of the darkest inhuman possibilities in the idealistic language of film romance.” —Alive Magazine
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