If you're near East Brunswick, N.J., a high school play being staged this weekend certainly has a modern and timely subject - video games addiction, and relationships falling apart because of it.
Today's production is probably over by now, but tomorrow at 7 p.m., "Neighborhood 3: Requisition of Doom" (pictured) will be performed by students of the School of Performing Arts at the Middlesex County Vocational and Technical Schools in East Brunswick. The play takes its title from a fictitious horror video game in the story.
It sets a scene of "an orderly exurb" where troubles begin when neighborhood kids start obsessively playing this game - truncated to N3RD for narrative purposes. It was written by L.A.-based playwright Jennifer Haley in 2006.
Interestingly, if it were a game, the play would be rated T - the school notes it's not recommended for kids under 14.
Update: Sacred Fools Theater of Los Angeles will stage three more performances of N3RD, one on Saturday and two next weekend. Details here.
Subject of Video Game Addiction Inspires School Play [Game Politics. Image via Jennifer Haley.]