patrick mccarthy (he/him)
Patrick Thomas McCarthy, ptmc, is an actor, director, playwright, former high school English teacher living in New York City since 1995. Most of his playwriting work is LGBTQ themed and has recently focused on adaptations of Shakespeare to contemporary settings. His major works include Pride River Crossing, sExtOrtiOn, CUSTODY, The LEARS: Fools of Fortune, 12th NIGHTed, [all staged at ALL OUT ARTS Fresh Fruit Festival at The Wild Project, NYC, winning multiple awards including 2 Outstanding Playwright Awards for PRXing, & sExtortiOn] SLIPPERY: A Wintry Tale, Varied Lives, Midnight's Dream, TEMPEST, Aaron’s Revenger’s Tragedy, and Reeking of Indiscretion: Madame X’s Allerton. He is a member of Dramatists Guild, The Playwright’s Center, AEA, SAG/AFTRA, a primary participant in the Performing Arts Legacy Project at the Actor's Fund, and a Writing Fellow at the Vermont Studio Center. https://www.ptmcplaywriting.com/ https://newplayexchange.org/users/5711/patrick-thomas-mccarthy-ptmc
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PRIDE RIVER CROSSING: A Spoon River for a New Century
By Patrick Thomas McCarthy ptmc © 2011 Registration# PAU003569759 Excerpt for Theatre Viscera [PROLOGUE VIDEO: pre-show loop should repeat as audience enters; Pre-Show: Sounds, a mix of noises in preparation for the rally from hymns, We Shall Gather At the River, to chanting of rally slogans, to sounds of crickets and wind in the cemetery, to applause and cheering, police sirens, microphone feedback, laughter, all the sounds of the gathering of a mass of people, contrasted with the solitude of a spring night in a cemetery; slides of Pride River, the American flag and the rainbow flag flash, amidst shots of a cemetery, the rally itself does not occur in the Pride River cemetery, but the voices of the past emerge from there, the map of Pride River keeps appearing leading us to the rally, there are 6 chairs and 1 stool onstage in the pre-set, high stool UC, 4 chairs CS, two MidCR, two MidCL, 1 chair DLC and last chair is placed DR …. At start of show, SIX/Keira Kelly-Kennedy appears in a down center pin spot to great applause and cheering, she tries to quiet the crowd, & eventually can begin.]
[Suggested by Zach Wahl’s address to the Iowa State Legislature] SIX / KEIRA KELLY-KENNEDY Hello, people of Pride River. [Cheering] My name is Keira Kelly-Kennedy, yes, it’s hyphenated. I’m a fourth-generation citizen of Pride River [More Cheering] and a senior at Pride River High School, and my brother Kyle and I were raised by two men right here in Pride River. [More cheering, tries to quiet the crowd] Now you’re going to have to quiet down or we’ll never get to all of the voices who want the chance to be heard tonight. [Laughter & more cheering] And my family, my two fathers, Kenny and Kevin, and my brother Kyle and I, aren’t so different from any other Pride River family. We go to church together, we eat dinner together, we go on vacations, & we have our hard times too. We argue, we can’t figure out how to pay for my college education, & sometimes we even disagree about some very basic things, but we don’t expect anyone to solve our problems for us. We fight our own battles and hope for equal & fair treatment from our government. And I am not really so different from any of the other young people in Pride River. My family really isn’t so different from yours. A family doesn’t derive its worth from being told by the state, “Congratulations you’re married”. The sense of family comes from the commitment we make to each other. It comes from the love that binds us. That’s what makes a family. Now in the next ninety minutes we’re going to hear plenty of testimony about what it’s like to be a citizen of Pride River and whether my family deserves a place at the table here. You’ll make judgements. You’ll see many things from a different perspective, but you should know at the very beginning that in my 18 years here in Pride River, I have never been confronted by an individual who realized without being told that my brother Kyle and I were raised by a gay couple. And why is that? Because the sexual orientation of our parents has had zero effect on the content of our character. Thank you Pride River. [She waves to the crowd as light fades on her with applause and cheering fade into the sound of a strong wind blowing, the cast has faded in during her speech to take their places, SIX/Keira moves to RC chair and sits, FOUR stands behind the UR chair as it becomes the back of Keira’s desk, FIVE/TREVOR moves to the LC chair, his mother TWO/Rachel stands behind the UL chair and it becomes the back of Trevor’s desk, she remains standing next to him watching him take his test, ONE/DOC HILL moves DR to sit on the DR chair, THREE/MR.DRAMA moves to the UC stool and sits creating his classroom] ONE/DOC HILL There was a wind on the hill that night. It blew with the indefinable current of change. They spoke of change and the words pierced the charged air of possibility. We hadn’t heard the words before out loud, only whispered, or suspected in coded messages. We had come together to hear them, to feel as one, to be as one no matter how great the danger. Finally out in the open, we had gathered together in the promise of possibility. Would we stay there? In the infinite depth of possibility? There was a wind that night. It was charged with the current of change. [Exits as the sound of wind subsides. Rachel stands next to Trevor with a bible] TWO/RACHEL When I heard about the rally, I made sure my Trevor was staying home that night. I am Rachel and as a mother, it’s my duty to protect my child and make sure he’s not being fed lies. And no TV for him either. TV is the worst, exposes him, gives him ideas. It’s a parent’s job to shape a child, to filter everything the child is exposed to. So I do the home schooling for my Trevor. Oh I know what you’re thinking. But I know my own shortcomings and I send Trevor for math classes to the public school. [Mr. Drama begins writing UC on an imaginary chalkboard] Not the science classes just the math where you know everything has a correct answer. And with the math class at school, Trevor will get the socialization skills that everyone says are so important. I handle science and all the other subject areas including religion. I know my Bible and all the appropriate passages to teach him. He’s a good student and a good boy when he’s not confused. Confused, that’s what this country has become. Confused. Sometimes I am confused myself and cry myself to sleep worrying about his future here. He’s my son and it’s my job to protect him. [Exits] THREE/MR DRAMA I was grading papers that night. It was the end of the semester and I had to get my grades in on time and not give the school ammunition in their yearly attempts to dismiss me. I was the spinster English teacher loved by his students, player of practical jokes, director of the school play, called Mr. Drama, lover of Shakespeare, stern disciplinarian, yet capable of touching the hearts of my students [SIX/Keira turns in her imaginary test paper flirting with Mr. Drama as she exits] when they would drop their learned defenses long enough, and also careful never to touch anything but their hearts. [Mr. Drama tugs FIVE/Trevor’s imaginary test paper from him and indicates for him to leave, FIVE/Trevor looks at him longingly starts to exit, returns to Mr. Drama reaches out and touches his arm, Mr. Drama turns, Trevor nods “nothing” and exits] Not even a hug, not even if they needed it. Too dangerous, too human, too telling, and of course there had been parental complaints about my teaching for years and the requisite meddling. The attempts with the end around to get those light in their loafers dismissed by other means. But I am also an exquisite games player and had outmaneuvered the undercurrent for years. So, I told myself I would go to the rally when I finished my grading, so in a way I knew I wouldn’t be going. Everyone knew who I was and what I was anyway. I didn’t have to make the appearance, but I had wanted to. Showing up, they say it’s 90 percent of the effort. So, if I didn’t show up and only scored a possible 10 for my decision, I’d have to rethink my grading curve. [Exits] [Scenes of an idyllic Pride River flash on the upstage wall] FOUR/MITZI REID I have lived here all my life. I’ve never been anywhere else. Why would I need to go anywhere else? Pride River has everything anyone could ever want, from its bounty of gracefully arching trees over peaceful shaded streets, to its fine school system, to its many churches and other places of worship. And diversity, we have that too, and I would say I have pride in Pride River. Some might call me a booster, guilty as charged. I will always sing the praises of Pride River. And if you want to buy a home here, I’m the person you want to see. Mitzi Reed. Real estate. Here’s my card. [Gives her card to many in the audience] Low property taxes, great neighborhoods and schools, [slides] FOUR/MITZI REID and home values are going up, up, up, because they’re moving in [slides of homes with rainbow flags] with their attractive rainbow flags and their two income households. They actually mark their home locations with rainbow flags so they can tell where others like themselves live. And they can afford to live here with their two income households, and most of the time they don’t even use the public schools, even though they pay taxes for them. It’s a win, win situation. I make my commission, and they upgrade the neighborhood and pay taxes. Oh, there are some who disapprove, and I’ve advised clients not to fly their flags so gaily, not to mark their property so obviously, due to the discomfort it may cause. But as long as I’m making my commission there’s room for rallying and lots of rainbow flags in Pride River. It just makes economic sense and that’s the most important issue. Anyone need my card? [Trevor enters] Oh hi, Trevor, will you tell your mom I have some prospects to look at your house and I can bring them by tomorrow. [Trevor nods] [To audience] She never returns my calls. [To Trevor] And how are you doing? No more accidents? [Trevor nods no] Tomorrow? [Trevor nods] To look at your house? Anyone like to look at Trevor’s house? It’s an excellent fixer upper. [She exits passing out cards] FIVE/TREVOR I live in that fixer upper. I’m a fixer upper myself, in need of fixing, sometimes on uppers. I live with my mom. She says I’m confused. Maybe I am. I’ve only had a few fixings so far, doesn’t mean it couldn’t happen again. I live as if another fixing is waiting to happen. I live one day at a time. I’m home schooled one day at a time. My mom says it’s for my own protection. But I do get the privilege of math classes at Pride River High School. Mom doesn’t know I also take Mr. Drama’s English class. That’s my secret. Mr. Drama makes up for Trevor running the gauntlet everyday I’m there. Trevor gets his social integration with Spike every day. Trevor is in danger every day. Mom doesn’t get that. She thinks math classes are safe, that Trevor can’t learn other things there. She wants Trevor to learn but only the things she chooses Trevor to learn, like bible verse. She likes Leviticus a lot. She wants me to like it a lot. Trevor is thinking about how he’ll be fixed the next time. Who and what will fix Trevor the next time? I’m a fixer upper. You want to fix me too? [Trevor remains on stage to listen to Leviticus] ONE/REV LEVITICUS JOHNSON Rev. Leviticus Johnson at your service, young man, in the heavenly father’s service. Serving you all since 1822, ever since the blessed chapter 18 verse 22 came into my life and made me see God’s plan for me. In the King James, Leviticus 18:22 is translated: "Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination." Therein lays the beauty of God’s plan for me, to teach his word concentrating on His Levitical prowess. It even brought me to be baptized anew into Leviticus. My newly christened name, Leviticus Johnson. Maybe we can baptize you anew too son. You’d like that wouldn’t you? Into Leviticus? Now in Leviticus, we find the answers to all our questions. In Leviticus, by concentrating on this one holy book, we need not spread our powers of understanding scattershot, but focus on our heavenly target by learning the rules by which to live our lives. In Leviticus, we learn what sin is. In Leviticus, sin is defined. And God tells us what to do with sin. Hate it. God says that. Now, hate the sin and hate the sinner is what I’ve always said. I won’t sugarcoat it for you. That’s God’s word. If God hates it, He’s gotta hate those that live it. God hates fags, it’s as clear as the King James bulging out of my pocket. It’s as clear as AIDS and recruitment. It’s as clear as Anita Bryant selling orange juice. It’s as clear as Rev. Fred Phelps doing the lord’s work. It’s as clear as Hurricane Katrina and 9/11. It’s as clear as they are trying to steal the holy union of a man and a woman. Take Leviticus to your hearts and know what God has in store for you. Rev. Leviticus Johnson, here in the lord’s service. [Trevor escapes/exits and Leviticus follows his prey offstage] THREE/DOM DIPPOLD [He enters speaking and sits on the high stool behind the SR chairs, it now becomes his dispensary table] If you take a look at it, you’ll see, but so few people ever take a real look at anything. I’m Dom Dippold, your friendly optician here at the Lens Makers at the Pride River Mall, and with our special introductory price for exam, frames and lenses, I can get you to see things you’ve never seen before. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves, don’t worry about the frames, let’s concentrate on what you’re going to see, not how you’re going to be seen. Let’s do the eye test first then we’ll try different lenses. Put your hand over one eye. One eye everyone please? Ready? Tell me how many fingers you see? [He gives the peace sign] Two, you saw two fingers extended and what does that mean? [He smiles & shows the peace sign again] Again, the other eye. How many of my fingers do you see extended with your other eye? [He holds up two cuckold signs and his tongue is also extended] That’s right. Six, four fingers and two thumbs, but six all together, very good, excellent eyesight. One more, now with both eyes. [He crosses his arms with the cuckold signs in a homey pose across his chest] What do you see? You’ve got it. You might not even need the lenses. But let’s try anyway, just for fun. Just so you can see things a different way. Here try this lens. [He offers an imaginary lens to the audience] Can you see me now? [He does all 3 poses again] Not clear enough? A little blurry? Here try this one. [He offers another lens, then offers the bird with his middle finger] Too clear? Too threatening? [He offers another lens] Okay, I know which lens you want, the rose-colored lens. Try it. [He offers the lens and sits there motionless] That’s the one you like, right? That’s the way you want to see me. But I’m sorry, I don’t sell that lens. I only sell the first two. A little blurry, that’s fine, you can’t really tell, not your fault, or too clear, that’s really knowing who I am. Come to the rally tonight and you’ll see me just the way I am. But seeing me just the way you want to see me, I don’t sell that lens ever. [End Sample Pages – Pride River Crossing] |
