A Play by Richard Ehrlich
At what point does ordinary life require justification to continue unchanged?
Michael Porter is 62, widowed, and living alone. He's managing fine—until the system decides otherwise.
When enough people express concern about Michael's "withdrawal," a mandatory wellness review is triggered. What begins as a routine conversation becomes a methodical examination of his right to live quietly.
Sara Chen and David Reese are here to help—whether Michael wants help or not. Over 75 minutes in real time, Michael discovers that his solitude, his missed appointments, his preference for quiet have all become evidence in a case he didn't know was being built.
THE INTERVIEW asks: Who decides when independence becomes inability? When does care become control? And what happens when you can't prove you're fine—only that you want to be left alone?
Widowed, lives alone. Emotionally contained, principled. His isolation is choice, not symptom. Increasingly aware he's in a trap.
Primary interviewer. Professional, warm, procedurally kind. Genuinely believes she's helping. Her care is real; her power is absolute.
Secondary interviewer. Observant, takes notes, occasionally redirects. The quiet enforcement behind compassionate questioning.
The questions begin. Everything is voluntary. Everything is helpful. Michael answers honestly, not yet understanding that honesty is being catalogued as evidence.
Specific incidents examined. Michael offers explanations—reasonable, true. But they're looking for patterns: isolation, disengagement, decline.
Michael learns how much they already know. Financial monitoring. Health data. Concerned reports. The scope of surveillance becomes clear.
Michael tries every form of refusal. Logic. Principle. Anger. Silence. None of it works. Sara and David remain calm, kind, inexorable.
Supported Autonomy is implemented. Michael retains his home, his routines—he just has to prove he's managing them. Indefinitely.
Richard Ehrlich is a playwright, composer, and author whose work explores themes of identity, autonomy, family dynamics, and social systems. His deep insight into human behavior and institutional structures informs his theatrical work.
His plays include THE WEIGHT (family caregiving drama), THE THIRD CHAIR (psychological mystery), and FEARLESS SECRETS (inner voice drama). His musicals include ALL AT ONCE! (ADHD celebration), TONIC: Finding Euphoria (mental health experience), and THE BREATH: Coming Home (surveillance community thriller).
Richard is a member of the Dramatists Guild and lives in New York City.
No intermission. Real-time intensity. Perfect for festival programming or double bills.
2M, 1F (flexible casting). Showcases strong ensemble work and psychological depth.
Single institutional room. One table, three chairs. Focus on performance.
Standard institutional lighting. No special effects required.
Surveillance, autonomy, institutional power—urgent contemporary questions.
Works for regional theaters, universities, black box spaces, festivals.
For production rights, licensing information, or general inquiries, please get in touch.
Email: rdedds@hotmail.com
Website: theinterviewplay.net