WROL (WITHOUT RULE OF LAW)
“Behave. YOU DON’T THINK I’VE TRIED THAT? For years and years. Waited my turn and raised my hand and it doesn’t CHANGE ANYTHING—behaving—just makes me easier to ignore.”
Dark Comedy, 90 mins | 4F, 1M
In the garage of her suburban duplex, twelve-year-old Josephine makes apocalypse preparedness videos and posts them to YouTube. Vic takes Jujitsu. Maureen encrypts her text messages and hordes matches (because lighters fail). Sarah stuffs her knapsack with extra socks, granola, water filtration tablets and Tolkien novels, because “you don’t know where you’re going to be… when it happens… you might not be at home.” Convinced the world at large can’t be trusted to prioritize the well-being of adolescent girls in the event of a cataclysmic event (or just in general), this determined troupe of 8th grade ‘doomers’ are committed to preparing for survival in the post -collapse society they anticipate inheriting. Judy Blume meets Rambo, WROL (Without Rule of Law) is a darkly comic coming-of-age story for complicated times.
AWARDS
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Playwrights Guild of Canada, 2022 SureFire Selection
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ATHE Jane Chambers Excellence in Feminist Playwriting Award - Finalist
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SATAwards, Outstanding Original Script - Nominated
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Alberta Playwrights Network, Alberta Playwriting Competition - Finalist
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Tarragon RBC Emerging Playwright Award - Nominated
REVIEWS & SOCIAL MEDIA
“This is a play which masterfully threads the needle through a series of tonal shifts so audacious I scarcely noticed the time go by. From tears of laughter to tears of tragedy, the audience was brought by gut punches and gut busters to emotional peaks the likes of which aren’t commonly seen on or off stage. To say that this play MATTERS is to undersell both the incredible talent behind it and the importance of the message at its core.”
“There are plays that are amazing. There are plays that are funny. Then there are plays that are not only amazing and funny but also need to be seen. WROL is a play that needs to be seen.”
“The angry young women of Michaela Jeffery’s WROL (Without Rule of Law) are the heroes we need.”
“Congrats to @TouchstoneInVan for supporting the work of a bold new playwright with a beautifully rendered reading of WROL by Michaela Jeffery…”
“So happy we got the chance to hear WROL by the fantastic Michaela Jeffery. Such a tremendous play…”
“…the WROL reading was AMAZING tonight. Incredibly funny and heartfelt and a punch in the face at the end. Huge congrats to Michaela Jeffery and her whole team.”
“Wow! WROL (Without Rule of Law) by Michaela Jeffery: Thoughtful, provocative, heartbreaking and hilarious.”
“…what a fun, complex and poignant ride…”
“24 hours later and I’m still thinking about how beautiful, funny and emotional Michaela’s writing is…”
“Still digesting last night’s reading of WROL by Michaela Jeffery. This hilarious, intelligent and moving piece of theatre spoke to my inner child, outer adult, feminist heart and art loving soul. We laughed and cried out loud. ”
“Fan-fucking-tastic job to the cast and crew of WROL on your staged reading tonight, and especially huge congratualtions to Michaela Jeffery who wrote such a strong, hilarious & touching script.”
“This was astounding. I cried. We all cried. “
PRODUCTION HISTORY
2023 The Station Theatre Urbana, IL, USA
2022 Orlando Repertory Theatre Orlando, FL, USA
2022 Glendale Community College Glendale, AZ, USA
2022 The Sixth Fest New York City, NYC, USA (Reading)
2022 The Guild Hall Whitehorse, YK, CANADA
2022 Oregon Children's Theatre Portland, OG, USA
2022 St. Norbert College Green Bay, WI, USA
2021 Femme Folks Festival Sudbury, ON, CANADA (Reading)
2021 Lilian Osbourne High School Edmonton, AB, CANADA
2021 Miami Beach High School Miami Beach, FL, USA
2021 Innovative Arts Toronto, ON, CANADA
2020 Trinity Western University Langley, BC, CANADA
2020 Queen Bees Productions New Braunfels, TX, USA
2020 The Sunset Theatre Wells, BC, CANADA (Reading)
2019 Persephone Theatre Saskatoon, SK, CANADA
2019 Playsmelter/ Pat The Dog Sudbury, ON, CANADA (Reading)
2019 Theatre Direct Toronto, ON, CANADA (Reading)
2019 Simon Fraser University Vancouver, BC, CANADA (Staged Excerpt)
2019 Touchstone Theatre/ The Cultch Vancouver, BC, CANADA (Reading)
2018 Big Secret Theatre Calgary, AB, CANADA (Reading)
PHOTOS
PURCHASE SCRIPT