"Civil" is set in an unspecified future, where trials are held in a virtual environment, and can only be 40 minutes long. Five actors (2 men, 2 women, and one that can be played by either gender) play multiple roles, and the audience votes on the outcomes of both trials.
When the play begins, it is quickly explained that everything you are seeing is merely a virtual construct, and that the four characters you will see involved with the trial (only referred to by their color, Red, Green, Blue, and Orange) are artificially created--meaning, that they only represent the defendants in the trial, and that the physical details, voices, and even genders may be different. One other character, nicknamed "Cursor," will represent both lawyers as well as the judge. The trial is on a seven second delay, so when a statement is stricken from the record, you, the audience, may never hear it. The audience votes, the play ends, and everyone has to live with what they've done.
This show is meant to be performed with no set, no props, and minimal costumes. But productions are encouraged to go crazy with lights and sound.
Civil guide sections
