The Giver: A Play

by Eric Coble

Drama. Adapted by Eric Coble from the Newbery Award-winning book by Lois Lowry.
Cast: 4m., 4w., extras as desired or 4m., 2w. with doubling, extras as desired.
Jonas' world is perfect. Everything is under control and safe. There is no war or fear or pain. There are also no choices. Every person is assigned a role in the community. But when Jonas turns 12, he is chosen for special training from The Giver—to receive and keep the memories of the community. The Giver is the only person who holds the memories of real pain and real joy. Now Jonas will learn the truth about life—and the hypocrisy of his utopian world. Through this astonishing and moving adaptation, discover what it means to grow up, to grow wise, and to take control of your own destiny. The Giver was commissioned by Oregon Children's Theatre and has played to sold-out audiences at such theatres as Oregon Children's Theatre, First Stage Milwaukee, The Coterie Theatre, People's Light and Theatre Company, Dallas Children's Theater, Stages Repertory, Nashville Children's Theatre, Lexington Children's Theatre, Asolo Repertory Theatre, Florida Repertory Theatre, and Indiana Repertory Theatre. Unit set. Approximate running time: 70 minutes.

Genres: Plays, Theatre, Fiction

60 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Eric Coble was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, and bred on the Navajo and Ute reservations in New Mexico and Colorado. His plays have been produced off-Broadway, throughout the United States and on several continents including productions at Manhattan Class Company, the Kennedy Center, Playwrights Horizons, Actors Theatre of Louisville's Humana Festival, Alliance Theatre, Cleveland Play House, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Laguna Playhouse, Stages Repertory, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, New York Fringe Festival, Great Lakes Theater Festival, Dallas Children's Theater and the Contemporary American Theater Festival. Awards include the AT&T Onstage Award, National Theatre Conference Playwriting Award, an NEA Playwright in Residence grant, a TCG Extended Collaboration grant, the Aristophanes Award for Best New Comedy, the Cleveland Arts Prize and two Ohio Arts Council Individual Excellence grants.

Reviews

[TJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm taking part in a production of this! 'The Giver' is one of my all time favorite books, and I think this is a great translation of it. If I'd written it (Welp lol) I may have written some of the final scenes slightly differently, but there's nothing wrong here! And I like the fluidness of the scenes. 5/5 stars!

[Lynnae Andersen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great play for a minimalist set and small cast. would work well for JH or SH.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read The Giver as a possible candidate for an educational production. It is an adaptation of Lois Lowery’s novel adapted by Eric Coble. I read the source material as a kid and then recently re-read it with my book club. It’s a great dystopian book and I think Coble did a remarkable job adapting it for the stage. The play is filled with technical challenges that offer lots of opportunities for creative theatre magic, and resounds with thought-provoking imagery that inspires the audience to consider choice, collective responsibility, individuality, and memory. I don’t know if I’m going to direct this show yet, but it’s one I’m definitely going to keep in mind. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[olivia]

i mean it was good it was all just super abrupt. it’s hard to turn a full novel into a play. world building wasn’t really there. not sure if the giver ends the same way but ???

[Vivienne · Rating 4 out of 5]

My school is doing this for our winter play, I’m the chief elder so I decided to read the script ahead of time. This is honestly a very good story.

[Marc Weaver · Rating 2 out of 5]

works better as a novel

[Josephine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was a pretty good adaptation of the book. It would be a good read for kids or a good production for kids.

[Mardel Fehrenbach · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this was sensitively and thoughtfully done. But I also feel the subject matter worked better as a novel.

[Zachary Pareizs · Rating 4 out of 5]

As excellent in this form as the novel, but the ending feels horribly rushed.

[Laurie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gotta read plays when you’re in them!

[Lauren Merrifield · Rating 5 out of 5]

This play is truly excellent as well as a very accurate adaptation from the book.

[Ross Nelson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've not read the original novel, but as a play, this was a real disappointment. The dialog is leaden, much of the play amounts to exposition about the world that is the setting, and there are plot holes that defy logic.

I assume the novel has much more time to develop than the 70+ minutes the work is given on stage, so it may be a much more satisfying experience. As drama, however, there is little to recommend it.

[Joelle.P.S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great adaptation (of Lois Lowry's book) for the stage. I look forward to seeing the production. :-)

[Katelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the play version of the book.