Treason

Historical | Drama
By Michael London

4M | Ages 13, 43, 45 & 69

Act 1 | 50 minutes
Act 2 | 40 minutes

A father and son, each who cared deeply for the other, became two sides of the political drama of their time….. Both convinced of their cause, both set to lose.

Inspired by the true events, TREASON is a dramatic two-man play revealing Benjamin Franklin’s clandestine meeting with his illegitimate son William, Britain’s faithful Royal Governor of New Jersey, as this devoted father and loving son find themselves enemies in the American Revolution.

Their opposing loyalties come head to head in May 1775 when William steals away to meet secretly with his father, begging him to stop his dangerous push for war.

Even William’s shocking first meeting with his own illegitimate son cannot change the course of the coming battle.

This is the story of that night.

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Cast List

Joseph Galloway | Male, Mid 40’s

Middle-aged merchant & politician, owner of the Trevose Estate, and a man full of tension and fear over the coming conflict.

William Franklin | Male, Mid 40’s

Royal Governor of the colony of New Jersey; son of Benjamin Franklin.

Benjamin Franklin | Male Late 60’s

American Politician, Printer & Inventor and father of William Franklin.

William “Temple” Franklin | Male 14

Grandson of Benjamin Franklin, son of William Franklin, and a bright but naïve boy from a sheltered existence.

Setting

The action takes place inside a parlor room at the Pennsylvania country estate of Trevose on the night of May 24, 1775.

Behind the Story

Today we have families that are torn apart with political division.

This is not new. It is at the very core of who we are as a country and how we started. It is only when we can actually hear each other and listen that we may hope to heal the divide. This is the true story of a family that did not, and it may be a caution to us all.

I know this history well, and sharing this story and others of this family on stage is a key reason that I remain committed as the Playwright-in-Residence for the Benjamin Franklin House in London, UK.

ARTISTIC COMMISSION
The creation of this work was supported by:

The American ArtWorks Foundation
The Benjamin Franklin House in London, UK

Media

Testimonials

“Anschel is an incredibly powerful play that provides accessible and engaging Holocaust education for audiences as young as 6th grade. At the JCC of Greater Columbus we welcomed over 230 attendees, of which 60 were students. There are very few Holocaust education programs that have such broad appeal to audiences of different ages. The story itself is inspiring and the performance captivated everyone in our theater for the entire time. I would highly recommend bringing Anschel to your community.”

— Ronnie Conn (Jewish Community Center, Columbus, OH)

“What an amazing and rewarding experience to participate in Anschel, last night in Springfield. 90 minutes of attention, concentration and emotion. It was very personal and the setting felt very right. The young actor was electrifying – and this must be hard duty as the story is as hard to watch as it is compelling. No looking away.”

— Audience Member (Springfield, OH)

“Touching, moving, and beautifully told story.”

— Audience Member (Columbus, OH)

“It was a very moving and spiritual experience!”

— Audience Member (Dayton, OH)