Freefall

The play is a drama of two brothers who grew up in inner-city Chicago and have followed divergent paths into adulthood: one as a thief, the other as a policeman. The realistic, possibly allegorical play is a dramatic portrayal of what family means in a society that has splintered the traditional institution. Although Grant and Monk are brothers, they took very different paths out of the neighborhood. Grant is a cop with a low-risk desk job; he is attempting to carve a nice niche for himself and his wife, Alex, in a middle class suburb. Monk, recently released from prison, has found faith through an unknown benefactor. Monk needs a place to live and searches for his mysterious benefactor. Lacking food, clothing, and shelter, he still possesses inspiration and the drive to strive for higher awareness. When Monk shows up on Grant and Alex’s doorstep, all three are thrust into a confrontation which forces them to explore what it means to be family. Grant had helped to put his brother away for burglary and drugs, so there is no family trust to protect either man. Monk’s ally of last resort is a drug lord named Spoon, who sets up a dangerous confrontation with lethal consequences. It’s up to Grant’s wife, Alex, to avert a freefall. In the end, the play celebrates the union of faith, family, and the coming together of the whole.