Trial of the Century A Solo Performance of My Own Design

Abstract

Being a man in this world is tricky. Being a man who wants to do better is trickier. Understanding the influences that make us who we are both consciously and unconsciously is trickier still. The following is a piece devised of my own design with inspiration taken from an article on toxic masculinity entitled, “Dear Jonah Hill, The Problem with ‘Superbad’ isn’t Masculinity” by D.C. McAllister. This assignment was intentionally simplistic in design; one actor, two tables, a few boxes, and a red hat. To provide more would have distracted from the duality of a man on stage arguing for and against Toxic Masculinity. It was my intention going into this piece to A). Risk being disliked by the audience and B). Challenge the audience to look at themselves and access in what ways they promote the toxicity of the patriarchy. This thesis documents my process from before I even knew what it was until the final performance.