Assavarungnirund 1

Nate Assavarungnirund
English 2 XL
Section 7

Terror Stories: A Post 9-11 Project

Ed Trafton and Jesuit Dramas first play of the 2015-16 school year, Terror Stories: A
Post 9-11 Project, portrays a highly controversial topic. The play revolves around the discussions
after the terrible tragedy that occurred on September 11, 2001. Terror Stories shows how the
United States government reacted towards the tragedy. In addition, the play dives into the issue
of retrieving information from prisoners regarding the terrorist acts. From Guantanamo Bay to
Abu Ghraib, many prisoners are portrayed as being tortured during the production. The constant
abuse and torture raise the question and debate about whether or not the United States prisons
are considered humane.
The production portrays multiple characters that quote their beliefs. The topic of how far
is too far is quite controversial. Some people believe that the government should do whatever it
takes to retrieve information from inmates. On the contrary, others believe that there is a moral
line that the government should not cross. Some people believe that if we continue our
aggressive and inhumane methods, we would not be different from the very the monsters that we
are trying to stop. The play presents both sides to the argument about the humanity in the United
States methods of interrogating their prisoners. Instead of completely persuading the audience to
one side, Terror Stories gives the power to the audience to make their decision. It is quite poetic
and brave that the play gives the audience all the power in the world to agree or disagree with
what the play presents. To this day, the debate regarding the various methods of interrogation
remains to be highly controversial.