SAN DIEGO — On Wednesday, there was a pretty informal gathering with open seating in front of the little stage in the lobby of the Lyceum. The ball got rolling with a little sing-along, just voices, acoustic guitars and a box drum. And you know, it’s nice to get away from the formality of equity houses and just chillax.
Blindspot Collective is a small troupe taking on big issues. They are currently touring Danny’s Story a “forum theatre” play based on the real experiences of transgender youth. The issue is important not just because it’s trending, but because this is a highly vulnerable population. One third have attempted suicide.
“Danny” is a transgender boy who was born female. Kids have kept diaries forever, but today’s millennials post theirs online. Danny has a Youtube channel where he works through his transition.
When a person transitions, it’s a big adjustment for everyone. Some still call him “Dara” out of habit. But Danny has a chance to start over by crossing the country to live with his dad in San Diego. But day one doesn’t go as smoothly as he’d hoped.
Bathrooms are an issue. There’s only one unisex onesie on campus where he can safely change for PE, making him late for two classes. And while some are genuinely accepting, there’s a bully who gives him hell.
But we don’t just passively watch the story unfold. This is a platform for reflection and discussion. What went wrong? How could it have gone better?
The actors replayed the scenes and we as the audience got to initiate do-overs, calling “stop,” replacing the actors in that scene and improvising. There were trans youth in the house who focused less on Danny and more on the friends, teaching them how to be better allies. They described the experience as a little scary, but very empowering.
During the talk-back, Playwright Catherine Hanna Schrock –who also books the show — admitted that not all schools welcome them with open arms. In our diversity, we have some very conservative groups. I can sympathize with principals who choose to avoid the headaches of angry phone calls.
I expect to hear from some hardcore conservatives in my own circle. They just don’t see how I could possibly be supportive of such “ungodly” people as the transgenderites. But our Scriptures instruct us to “love the stranger” and not to oppress them. (Leviticus 19:34) While “the stranger” is commonly understood to refer to foreigners and immigrants, can’t it refer to anyone different from ourselves? On our path, we meet many people who threaten our comfort zones in one way or another. Choosing to treat them with compassion is how we repair the world.
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Eric George Tauber is a freelance writer specializing in coverage of the arts. He may be contacted via eric.tauber@sdjewishworld.com