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Stark Drama takes an honest, but humorous, look at the
shortcomings of our judicial system. As the play begins, Gilbert Stark is on death row in a state
penitentiary awaiting execution. He was sentenced to die seven years ago. Stark hates being caged
like an animal and, therefore, wants to be executed. Against Stark's wishes, his attorney, Roger
Advance, is seeking another stay of execution on the eve of the execution date.
The Governor is concerned about the situation because it's an election year. If he grants a stay
of execution, the conservatives will say he's soft on crime. If he allows Stark to be executed,
the liberals will say he's heartless and cruel. Advance, Stark's opportunist attorney, has a solution
for the Governor's problem—let Stark escape, the guards will shoot him, and the governor doesn't
have to make a decision concerning Stark's execution. The Governor agrees to have Advance appointed
as a judge if the plan succeeds.
On the eve of Stark's execution, the governor, his attorney, a guard, a cook, a human rights
activist, the foreman of the jury that convicted him, another member of the jury, the judge that
sentenced him to die, a reporter, and a cameraman come to see Stark in his cell. What happens amidst
the confusion? The prisoner walks out of his cell and sits in the audience.
A pungent satire on the bungling of America's criminal justice system while bringing up an
interesting question: Is it cruel and unusual punishment to keep an inmate on death row awaiting
execution for years? First produced by the Fairbanks, Alaska, Drama Association's After Hours Theatre.
The author's home is in North Pole, Alaska.
One act; Set, a cell on Death Row; Time, the present.
"We have had such a wonderful response to Stark Drama that we scheduled an additional
performance. Enclosed is a royalty payment for one more performance. Thank you for providing us with
such a challenging and rewarding play."—Mrs. Kerri G. Huffman, North Stanly High School,
New London, North Carolina.
See also: Plays About Social Issues
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