Susana Cook's "The Fraud" was performed after the 2000 controversial elections in the United States. The play addresses the rights that were lost under the Bush administration, when most of the social services were cut off and the poor and marginalized lost the basic support that kept them alive. In the play, the characters experience feelings of loss and confusion. They end up not knowing if they ever had what they think they have lost. The audience is invited to put 25 cents, and a black woman will die, right there, in front of them. During the rest of the scenes, the characters experience apathy, fear, and desperation while dealing with all the dead bodies around them. In the last scene, they "represent" the people from Third-World countries; the ones who were not called to vote, but that will be affected by the measures enforced by the president of the United States. Because US policies will affect their lives deeply, they claim their right to vote.
Script
The Fraud (eng) (Excerpt
JO – Here, through this tube, you can suck her blood slowly until she drops dead. Over here you can activate this injection. She can also do it by herself and you just watch. At the reasonable price, special promotion of 25 cents. It’s entertaining, it’s fun. Then we replace her, we have many girls waiting, take yours. You guys can watch. 25 cents and she’ll give herself to you. She’ll drop dead. 25 cents. It’s good. How many chances do you have to see people dying in front of you? Unless you are a doctor, very few. You don’t have to sign anything. It’s confidential. No requirement to inform the public. We have insurance and sponsors. She’ll drop dead for 25 cents, and she is fully insured. It’s automatic. Put the coin over here and it activates the thing.
Mary – The Electrocutioner
Sarah – Executioner
Abraham – Electrocutioner
Doc – What about it?
