The ten page play I am working on is a story that has been stuck in my head over the last month. So far, it has broken several of my "Do Not Write This" rules: no writing about College Kids, Teen Pregnancies, The Voice of Reason, and/or Drama Queens." Too much of that in undergraduate college writing workshops.
Interestingly, to me anyway, it is better than I thought it would be. The characters are college kids who had teen pregnancies, one a Voice of Reason and the other a Drama Queen, but those are the things that brought them together and helped them find meaning. Or something. No finger wagging. Perfect? No. Next big hit on [insert theatre district here]? No. But I think it will turn out well and is making for good practice.
Because I am practicing, I have some questions on potentially offensive content on stage. Are these things problematic to the point I should not include similar elements in future work:
1. Drama Queen swears. In two languages, even. A lot. I thought it fit her personality. Used for emphasis and is not at random.
2. Teen pregnancies. I didn't glorify them, but the characters ended up with some level of success in life. They're not the epitome of mental health and I don't know if I would call their outcome "defying the odds," but they didn't end up living in a dumpster or whatever after school specials would have you believe.
3. Drug references. Drama Queen went on a drug binge. See above about mental health, defying the odds, and dumpsters.
4. The Voice of Reason. She has baggage though, so is that a good thing?
There's a lot of banter, so no praying for a moment of comic relief and ending up laughing at one line that isn't very funny because there is so much drama you Must Laugh At Something. Thing is, I have seen an audience look afraid to laugh at gallows humor. Well, more than once. And one of the works was mine. And it ended up with someone pulling me aside and saying they were concerned. Yes, the person was serious about being concerned about my mental state because of something I wrote.
Guidance?
Interestingly, to me anyway, it is better than I thought it would be. The characters are college kids who had teen pregnancies, one a Voice of Reason and the other a Drama Queen, but those are the things that brought them together and helped them find meaning. Or something. No finger wagging. Perfect? No. Next big hit on [insert theatre district here]? No. But I think it will turn out well and is making for good practice.
Because I am practicing, I have some questions on potentially offensive content on stage. Are these things problematic to the point I should not include similar elements in future work:
1. Drama Queen swears. In two languages, even. A lot. I thought it fit her personality. Used for emphasis and is not at random.
2. Teen pregnancies. I didn't glorify them, but the characters ended up with some level of success in life. They're not the epitome of mental health and I don't know if I would call their outcome "defying the odds," but they didn't end up living in a dumpster or whatever after school specials would have you believe.
3. Drug references. Drama Queen went on a drug binge. See above about mental health, defying the odds, and dumpsters.
4. The Voice of Reason. She has baggage though, so is that a good thing?
There's a lot of banter, so no praying for a moment of comic relief and ending up laughing at one line that isn't very funny because there is so much drama you Must Laugh At Something. Thing is, I have seen an audience look afraid to laugh at gallows humor. Well, more than once. And one of the works was mine. And it ended up with someone pulling me aside and saying they were concerned. Yes, the person was serious about being concerned about my mental state because of something I wrote.
Guidance?