“There’s a new theater company in town, The Rising Together Theater Company, and it’s a gift we’ve all been waiting for, even if we didn’t know it. According to the program for their first formal presentation, Reap What You Sow, Don’t Lose Heart, it’s “a unique nonprofit talkback theater company” committed to producing “original, short plays as ‘prompts’ for civil discourse and civic engagement.”

And what an excellent premier they chose! Reap What You Sow, Don’t Lose Heart by Jack Gilroy and zool Zulkowitz, who is also the Producer and Director of the play, as well as the Artistic Director of The Rising Together Theater Company, is an excellent play in and of itself, but also as a catalyst for some very thoughtful discourse. Reap What You Sow is a two-woman play which digs deeply into the debate between a military response to conflict and a nonviolent one. The two women are mother and daughter who truly love each other, but who hold diametrically opposed positions on the question of war: Can it ever be justified? Is it ever necessary? Can a nonviolent approach ever succeed?

Making the argument particularly powerful are the two characters. Mom is a U.S Air Force Major, a drone pilot, who has risen through the ranks in an unprecedented way for a woman. She is proud of her success and fully believes in her mission. Dad was a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Marines who was killed in Fallujah when their daughter was only five years old. Both parents met in ROTC and had dreams of their daughter following in their footsteps, but Ellie, the daughter, has other ideas. When she witnessed a protest at Creech Air Base in Nevada, where her mother was assigned, she actually admired the protesters for their courage and conviction and became curious to learn more about them and their perspective. Now a college student at a Jesuit university, she begins to take peace studies courses and to reject her parents’ military goals for her. The dialogue between mother and daughter is informed, thoughtful, and strong, but never preachy and never dull. It is also loving and respectful, modeling what we so desperately need in these very divisive times. 

And that is where the play ends—with that opportunity for the audience to enter into the debate. Questions are raised, and responses are welcome, whether in support of Major Mom Jennifer Golden, in support of peace studies daughter Ellie Golden, or in support of some alternate opinion. 

This play is remarkable because of the excellent, professional performances; the simple, effective staging; the relevant, contemporary topic that crosses generations; the balance of presentation; and the inclusion of audience participation. I cannot recommend this play enough. It is now available to schools, colleges, faith-based organizations, and community groups. Contact https://risingtogether.theater/about to learn more.”