Featuring irresponsible politicians who listen to lobbyists instead of constituents, Eden tells about a world in the not-far-distant future where child-bearing and rearing are no longer fashionable. The corrupt government functions in collusion with the industry that manufactures Genofacts—machine-produced children who can be purchased as well-trained properly programmed 18-year-olds. In a dramatically frightening manner, McDonough uses his perseptive understanding of secret human emotions to look at where our civilization is headed with the genetic engineering and experimentation taking place today.

With a playing time about 60 minutes, Eden may provide a full-length program, or it may combine with a shorter play such as Fables or Asylum. Like most of McDonough's works, Eden isa superior contest play. The cast's aim is to maintain an uninterrupted flow without the intrusion of full blackouts or scene curtains. Suggestions for cutting the text to contest length and bridging the scenes are given in the text. Most of the props are pantomimed. Each costume also has a breast pocket with a flap bearing a "G" which is displayed when the performer portrays a Genofact.

Winner of the Texas Theatre Association Playwriting Contest.

"EDEN...won the Brookswood zone, the Surrey zone, and went on to the British Columbia Provincial Finals, where we were the only play with a large ensemble, the only play to receive a standing ovation (14 plays, 4 nights of competition) and eventually came away with the Best Technical Production Award in B.C. Great play! Thank you!"—T. Dale & D. Kennedy, Langley, B.C., Secondary School, Canada. "We are thoroughly enjoying the play."—Carol Atchley, Cross Plains, Tex., High School.

Other McDonough original plays: Asylum, Fables, Filiation, Limbo, Mirrors, Plots, Requiem, Reunion, Stages, Stations