A review by jlrmac
8 by Dustin Lance Black

5.0

How does including same-sex marriage harm our society, our children, and the institution of marriage? This LA Theatre readers' play started with the closing arguments and then did flashbacks to hear the witness testimony of the 2010 trial challenged California's Proposition 8which denied gay and lesbian couples the right to get married. It astonished me how overwhelming the evidence was FOR same-sex marriage. The opposition to gay marriage had no defense and realized their opinions were just that under oath. The opposition witnesses actually made the case for allowing same-sex marriages. Major stars volunteered to participate in this radio play, and it is followed by interviews with original lawyers from both sides of Prop 8 and with the playwright and director. The actors' expressive delivery combined with actual plaintiff comments made this very understandable and easy to listen to. The original trial was not allowed to be broadcast live, but the author actually was present throughout much of the actual 2010 trial, and wrote this play from original court transcripts and interviews with the plaintiffs. An incredible look at a bit of U.S. history. Well worth listening to by anyone interested in the topic.