Coop: A Story of an Amish Conscientious Objector
A Play About Courage and Conviction by Iowa Poet Laureate Mary Swander
If you’ve ever questioned the ethics of waging war, you’ll want to see this play. Coop historical fiction, based on the true story of an Amish conscientious objector who boarded a train during WWII to fight fires in Colorado in lieu of picking up a gun. Unexpectedly, he and other conscientious objectors—a Mennonite, a Quaker, a Swiss Brethren, a Hutterite—are led off the train and illegally interred in a chicken coop for the duration of the war.
As he writes imaginary letters home to his mother, he’s afraid, yes. But he meets his fear with courage—and faith in his conviction that violence should be met by turning the other cheek.
This object theater drama stars Iowa City veteran actor Rip Russell and uses everyday props to portray a young man’s courage and conviction in response to persecution. Beautiful Amish hymns, sung a capello, form part of the sound track.
Author, poet, and playwright Mary Swander lives among the Amish in Kalona, Iowa, and is known for her best-selling book, Out of This World. Her play Map of My Kingdom, about farm succession, was a hit when it played in Fairfield in 2019.
After the play there will be a Q&A session with Swander, actor Rip Russell, conscientious objectors from Southeast Iowa, and Linda Egenes, author of Visits with the Amish.
Recommended for ages 12 and older.
Find out more at the Iowa Source and the Fairfield Cultural Alliance website.
Made possible by a grant from the Fairfield Cultural Alliance and generous donations from AERON Lifestyle Technology, Inc; Susan and Bob Daniels; Edward Jones and Company; Everybody’s Whole Foods; Fred and Shelley Gratzon and Sillycorn Valley Theatrics; Iowa State Bank and Trust Co; Libertyville Savings Bank; LISCO; and MidWestOne, a division of Nicolet National Bank. Please note: this is a partial list at the time of publication.
