On Friday, April 20, 2018 I saw the evening production of The Giver by the JSU Drama Team. The play was very much like the great book by Louis Lowry.

I really enjoyed the on-stage screens that featured the thoughts that went on in Jonas and the Giver's minds. The play featured 3 sets separated by a screen and light focus. Scenes included the dinner table, used by Jonas's family, the street with a streetlight and bike rack, and lastly the office used by the Giver and Receiver.

Many of these scenes and props were used in other parts of the play, such as the scene in which the job announcements were made. The play was much less graphic than the book, but in my opinion, that was better. The overall storyline of the book was made throughout the play very clearly.

As stated, the play was not as detailed, but I found the storyline much easier to understand and follow than the book packed with details. I also enjoyed the fact that the act of "releasing" was not acted out in the theatre but merely discussed and imagined. This kept the play less graphic and more viewer friendly.

I liked the overall attire and behaviors of the actors, especially Jonas's family. The grey tunics and drab colors help to explain the details as described in the book discussing the lack of color. The play also helps to explain the constant involvement of the government and authority in the citizens' lives.

I very much enjoyed the play's explanation of release, birth mothers, and careers. The play was not long in duration but that did not take away from the significance of the message it portrayed. I did not have any dislikes from the play, thank you to the JSU Drama Team.