Synopsis
After luring Isaac to the top of Mount Moriah under false pretenses, binding him, and nearly sacrificing him, Abraham is faced with an even more arduous task... attempting to make small talk with his son during their walk home.

Reviews and Recommendations
"Bavoso has written this anything but awkward 'Conversation …' with wry wit and insight and it is played by Zukerman and Harris with light-hearted skill and understanding. 'An Awkward Conversation …' not only is about faith and trust, it is about the difficulties of navigating a meaningful, complicated relationship — several relationships, in fact — with openness and honesty." — The Berkshire Eagle

“One of the best entries is ‘An Awkward Conversation in the Shadow of Mount Moriah,’ in which author John Bavoso imagines the father-son conversation that followed the Bible's account in Genesis of Abraham (Robert Zukerman) being willing to sacrifice son Isaac (Doug Harris) because God told him to.” — Times Union

“One of the funniest scripts in the group, the modern language take on these Biblical folk brings a new understanding to a near-tragic event. I could watch this play countless times and find more things in it each time.” — Berkshire Bright Focus

“Can you imagine what century-old Abraham and son Isaac chatted about after the boy narrowly escaped being sacrificed by his own father on the altar of God? Writer John Bavoso did, and the result is his clever, thoughtful and well-performed ‘An Awkward Conversation in the Shadow of Mount Moriah,’ crisply directed by Gina Pulice… Also admirable about Bavoso's strong work here is the organic nature of the humor. There are no cheap laughs, only well-earned ones.” — BroadwayWorld Rockland/Westchester

”This is a play of wisdom, tenderness, and wit. While the play explores the topics of faith and trust, it is also about the difficulties of navigating a meaningful, complicated relationship with openness and honesty as a son and father truly see one another for the first time.” —Steve Ramirez, Director

“What is worth defying God for? Bavoso is amazing. Instead of taking what could easily be a one-joke premise stretched out to ten minutes, he adds an insane amount of BEAUTIFUL layers to one of the most "extra" Sunday School stories. We chuckle at the thought of the awkward conversation, but the surprising heartfelt words both said and unsaid are moving, funny, and eye-opening, as son and father truly see one another for the first time. This is a stellar short play.” — Daniel Prillaman

“Boy, oh boy, did I enjoy this disarming and witty father-son piece about what happens when Abraham and Isaac have to get home after...well, after what famously *almost* happened in the Bible *didn't* happen. Isaac's mouthy and unremarkably gay outrage is a freakin' joy to behold, and Abraham's desire to connect with his growing stranger of a son is beautiful and sweet. There are throwaway lines here that sparkle with such wit I want to quote them -- but won't, so they can slap an unexpected laugh out of you, too. Charming and winning and delightful.” — Vince Gatton

Cast Breakdown
2M

Running Time
10 minutes

Production History
• Eleventh Annual 10x10 Festival, Barrington Stage Company, Pittsfield, MA, February/March 2022 (Production)

• 10x10x10 2022, Fells Point Corner Theatre, Baltimore, MD, April/May 2022 (Production)

• 2022 Collection of One Acts, Eden Prairie Players, Eden Prairie, MN, September 2022 (Production)

• Short+Sweet South India 2022, Chennai, November 2022 (Production) — Watch a recording of the production on YouTube!

• 2023 8 Tens @ 8 Festival, Santa Cruz County Actors' Theatre, Santa Cruz, CA, January 2023 (Production)

• 3rd Annual Playwriting Festival, Fargo Moorhead Community Theatre, Fargo, ND, January 2023 (Production)

• 2023 Evening of One Acts, The Ridgefield Theater Barn, Ridgefield, CT, March 2023 (Production)

• Summer Shorts 2023, The Playwrights’ Round Table, Orlando, FL, August 2023 (Production)

• Short+Sweet Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA, May/June 2024 (Production)

• Summer Shorts: Flipping the Script, City Theatre, Miami, FL, June 2024 (Production)

Development History
• Gather by the Ghost Light, June 2022 (Podcast Recording)

• Autumn S&Co Scratch Night, Scriptwriters & Co., Bath, UK, September 2022 (Zoom Reading)

Read the script on the New Play Exchange.

Photo Credit: David Dashiell, of Robert Zukerman and Doug Harris in the Barrington Stage Company production.