Trans/formation – University of Minnesota

 

 

Trans/formation:
Addressing Gender Issues in Schools

Commissioned  by  the  University  of  Minnesota’s  Program  in  Human  Sexuality

Written by Anton Jones, Suzy Messerole & Aamera Siddiqui

All Rights Reserved.
To request permission to perform this script all or in part contact
Jenae Batt
Communications Officer
Program in Human Sexuality
phs@umn.edu
612-625-1500

For more information contact:
Suzy Messerole
Co-Artistic Director
Exposed Brick Theatre
suzy.messerole@gmail.com
612-720-4852

Trans/Formation Play, Page 2

1. Opening: Specimen #1

It?

(Ensemble enters. Three members of the ensemble, _x000D_  “One,” _x000D_  “Two” _x000D_  and _x000D_  “Three” sit

This is how I feel. Most of the time.

on stools. The rest of the ensemble acts as scientists with magnifying glasses or
notebooks and pencils. The scientists begin to examine the three individuals who are
seated as well as the audience.)

One:

Scientist 1: What are you?

Scientist 2: What is it? He? She?

Scientist 1: She? He?

Scientist 3:

One:

Scientist 3: What are you?

Three:

Scientist:

Two:

Scientist 2: You _x000D_  can’t _x000D_  be…can _x000D_  you?

Scientist 1: What are you?

Scientist 3: There’s _x000D_  a _x000D_  50-50 _x000D_  chance. _x000D_   _x000D_  It’s _x000D_  one _x000D_  or _x000D_  the _x000D_  other… _x000D_  right?

Three:

I used to ask my parents, so when do I get to be a girl?

Everyone said I was I girl, but I knew I was a boy.

I feel both masculine and feminine. Some days both. Some days
neither.

No, what are you, really?

A sophomore.

This feeling. That someone is always looking. Always trying to
uncover.

Scientist 3: What are you?

One:

Three:

One:

What?

The truth. About me.

Trans/Formation Play, Page 3

As though truth lies in the chromosomes.

As _x000D_  though _x000D_  there’s _x000D_  this _x000D_  truth _x000D_  that _x000D_  is _x000D_  separate _x000D_  from _x000D_  me.

As _x000D_  though _x000D_  my _x000D_  truth _x000D_  isn’t _x000D_  enough. _x000D_   _x000D_  For _x000D_  others.

Scientist 1: What are you?

One:

Two:

Three:

Scientist 3: What are you?

Scientist 2: What are you?

All Scientists: WHAT ARE YOU?

2. Hallway Interactions #1

(School bell. Science attire is replaced with school attire and we are in a hallway.
Ensemble moves in a floor pattern simulating the bustling hallway during passing time.
Garry & Liz emerge. They are two teachers)

Liz & Garry
Liz

Garry:

Liz:

Garry:

Liz:

Garry:

Maya & Jesse
Maya:

Jesse:

Maya:

Hi, Garry, I am so glad I ran into you. I am in a bit of a conundrum
with Carol Peterson in my 3rd hour Spanish class.

Oh, Carol, sure she was in my Spanish 1 class last year. Great student.

I’m _x000D_  sure _x000D_  she _x000D_  is, _x000D_  but, well, I am a bit confused. (whispering as if saying
something horrible). When students were asked to choose their
Spanish names she chose Carlos. I suggested Carolina, but she
insisted on Carlos.

So what seems to be the problem?

Carlos is a male name.

Uh _x000D_  huh…so _x000D_  what _x000D_  seems _x000D_  to _x000D_  be _x000D_  the _x000D_  problem?

(The floor pattern in the Hallways resumes. Two students emerge.)

Wait. _x000D_   _x000D_  So _x000D_  you _x000D_  don’t _x000D_  use _x000D_  ANY _x000D_  pronouns.

No, I use pronouns – just not he or she. I use the pronoun ze instead
of he or she; or hir instead of him or her.

Hir _x000D_  like _x000D_  “we _x000D_  are _x000D_  here now.”

Trans/Formation Play, Page 4

Jesse:

Maya:

Jesse:

Mark & Lisa
Mark:

Lisa:

Mark:

Lisa:

Mark:

Lisa:

Mark:

Lisa:

bathroom.)

No, hir like a combination of him and her.

But _x000D_  that’s _x000D_  confusing. _x000D_   _x000D_  Can’t I just use your name?

What’s _x000D_  confusing _x000D_  is _x000D_  that _x000D_  someone _x000D_  as _x000D_  smart _x000D_  as _x000D_  you _x000D_  can’t _x000D_  figure _x000D_  out _x000D_  a _x000D_  
couple _x000D_  of _x000D_  simple _x000D_  pronouns. _x000D_   _x000D_  It’s _x000D_  just _x000D_  two _x000D_  words _x000D_  – I think you can
handle it.

(The floor pattern in the hallway resumes. Mark and Lisa emerge from the pattern.
They are two students in a heated conversation.)

I _x000D_  still _x000D_  don’t _x000D_  get _x000D_  it.

I identify as female. The gender that was assigned to me at birth
doesn’t _x000D_  feel _x000D_  right.

So _x000D_  you’re _x000D_  gay?

No, _x000D_  this _x000D_  isn’t _x000D_  about _x000D_  sexual _x000D_  orientation.

Okay, so—you’re _x000D_  a _x000D_  crossdresser?

No, I am a female. I’d _x000D_  be _x000D_  crossdressing _x000D_  if _x000D_  I _x000D_  wore _x000D_  a _x000D_  suit _x000D_  and _x000D_  tie.

I…I _x000D_  don’t _x000D_  get _x000D_  it.

Clearly.

(Mary _x000D_  & _x000D_  Lisa _x000D_  join _x000D_  the _x000D_  floor _x000D_  pattern. _x000D_   _x000D_  Out _x000D_  of _x000D_  this, _x000D_  Toni _x000D_  approaches _x000D_  the _x000D_  women’s _x000D_  

3. Bathroom Panic Part I

As _x000D_  she _x000D_  stands _x000D_  outside _x000D_  the _x000D_  women’s _x000D_  bathroom, Toni is in a predicament. Her internal
voice is represented by two actors… sometimes simultaneously. Words in bold are
spoken by the Actor playing Toni. As she stands there, other students enter the
bathroom, give her strange looks, etc. The bathroom can be represented by a box with
the female bathroom sign drawn on it.)

TONI

Why did I drink that orange juice?! Because _x000D_  I _x000D_  was _x000D_  thirsty _x000D_  that’s _x000D_  why. _x000D_   _x000D_  Thirsty _x000D_  
people drink things. But now I have to use the bathroom. Damn! I knew this would
happen. What do I do? Do I go in? I _x000D_  can’t _x000D_  hold _x000D_  it _x000D_  all _x000D_  day. But there are so many
people around. Maybe, I should just hold it for awhile – until _x000D_  it’s _x000D_  less _x000D_  busy _x000D_  in _x000D_  the _x000D_  
halls.

Trans/Formation Play, Page 5

(Bell Rings. A classroom is set up.)

4. Classroom: The Substitute Teacher

Uh..

Hi Kris!

So tell him.

Talk to him!

(In shock) Uh…

Shut up! He might hear you.

He _x000D_  doesn’t _x000D_  even _x000D_  know _x000D_  my _x000D_  name.

Great Job in Midsummer last night. You were awesome as Helena!

Jenny and Kris (a transgender female) are sitting in a class waiting for it to start.
Mark is seated close by.

Jenny:

Kris:

Jenny:

Kris:

Mark:

Kris:

Mark gets up and walks to Kris.

Mark:

Kris:

Jenny:

Kris:

Mark:

Kris:

Mark:

Kris:

Jenny:

Kris:

Awkward Silence

Mark:

So _x000D_  anyway…Are _x000D_  you _x000D_  studying _x000D_  for _x000D_  the _x000D_  Chem _x000D_  Test _x000D_  tonight?

You were seriously the best part of the play.

Say _x000D_  something _x000D_  besides _x000D_  “Thanks”.

(whispering) Say thank you.

(Still in shock) Thank you.

You were so funny!

Thanks.

Thanks.

Uh…

Trans/Formation Play, Page 6

Huh?

Kris:

(Jenny shakes her head)

Mark:

(thinking _x000D_  maybe _x000D_  Kris _x000D_  didn’t _x000D_  hear _x000D_  the _x000D_  question) Are you studying for the
Chem Test tonight?

Oh

Me too.

Together?

Only if you want to.

I was planning on it.

Do you want to study?

Kris:

Mark:

Kris:

Mark:

Kris:

Mark:

Ms. Lapinski enters. Mark begins to head back to his desk.

Kris:

Mark:

Kris:

Mark turns and walks to his desk. Kris and Jenny high five or some other happy
gesture with an audible sound.

Ms. Lapinski:

Cool, _x000D_  I’ll _x000D_  be _x000D_  at _x000D_  the _x000D_  downtown _x000D_  library _x000D_  at _x000D_  7.

Yeah…Okay. _x000D_  Sure!

Okay—me too.

Quiet everyone! Quiet please! Okay class, as you know, Mr. B
is _x000D_  out _x000D_  for _x000D_  a _x000D_  few _x000D_  weeks. _x000D_   _x000D_  I _x000D_  am _x000D_  Ms. _x000D_  Lapinski. _x000D_   _x000D_  That’s _x000D_  Ms., _x000D_  not _x000D_  Miss _x000D_  
or _x000D_  Mrs. _x000D_  Please. _x000D_   _x000D_  Let’s _x000D_  begin, _x000D_  indicate _x000D_  your _x000D_  presence _x000D_  with _x000D_  a _x000D_  hand _x000D_  
or a here. Roy Barrett.

Roy:

Ms. L:

Mark:

Ms. L:

Kris:

Ms. L:

Here.

Mark Bingham

Here

Here

Kris Crane

(looking up) Very funny, Kris Crane.

Trans/Formation Play, Page 7