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In light of Genesis 4:1-15, Dan Evans’s one-act explores relationships after the death of a sibling.
Genesis 4:1-15
Spaceship
By
Dan Evans
Note: This play contains strong language and implications of violence and may not be suitable for all audiences.
Credits:
Curated by:
Chris Cragin
2016
Script, One-Act Play

Primary Scripture
The man knew Eve his wife. She conceived, and gave birth to Cain, and said, “I have gotten a man with Yahweh’s help.”
Again she gave birth, to Cain’s brother Abel. Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
As time passed, Cain brought an offering to Yahweh from the fruit of the ground.
Abel also brought some of the firstborn of his flock and of its fat. Yahweh respected Abel and his offering,
but he didn’t respect Cain and his offering. Cain was very angry, and the expression on his face fell.
Yahweh said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why has the expression of your face fallen?
If you do well, won’t it be lifted up? If you don’t do well, sin crouches at the door. Its desire is for you, but you are to rule over it.”
Cain said to Abel, his brother, “Let’s go into the field.” While they were in the field, Cain rose up against Abel, his brother, and killed him.
Yahweh said to Cain, “Where is Abel, your brother?”
He said, “I don’t know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”
Yahweh said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries to me from the ground.
Now you are cursed because of the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.
From now on, when you till the ground, it won’t yield its strength to you. You will be a fugitive and a wanderer in the earth.”
Cain said to Yahweh, “My punishment is greater than I can bear.
Behold, you have driven me out today from the surface of the ground. I will be hidden from your face, and I will be a fugitive and a wanderer in the earth. Whoever finds me will kill me.”
Yahweh said to him, “Therefore whoever slays Cain, vengeance will be taken on him sevenfold.” Yahweh appointed a sign for Cain, so that anyone finding him would not strike him.
Genesis 4:1-15
Share This Art:
Inspired by the characters and familial relationships in the Genesis 4:1-15 story of Cain and Abel, I wrote Spaceship wanting to explore creatively the spiritual and emotional relationship between two brothers after one has passed away. I lost my own brother in an accident like the character Paul fourteen years ago. Even though my brother passed away in completely different circumstances, I tried imagining in this work what a conversation would maybe look and sound like if a surviving brother were to hypothetically be given the chance to sit down in a diner booth with his deceased brother and just talk (especially if that conversation only lasted for several minutes.)
Would the reunion be angry? Joyful? Sad? How do we as human beings process death and the responsibility of it? Especially when it seems to make no sense and happens to those closest to us? These are the questions I hope my audience asks when they read or watch a performance of Spaceship.
Spark Notes
The Artist's Reflection
Dan Evans is a playwright and writer living in Brooklyn, NY. He recently graduated from The King’s College in New York City with a B.A. in Media, Culture, and the Arts. There he studied under playwright Chris Cragin Day and presented his senior thesis and play LUNGS (working title) in a reading directed by Christopher Domig. Dan’s other writing has been featured online on Thought Catalog, GLAAD, V magazine, and Vman magazine.
Dan Evans

About the Artist
Dan Evans
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Related Information

Late evening. SPACESHIP opens to a 1950s styled restaurant booth sitting in the center of the stage.

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