35 Original Dramatic Plays for Two Females (Forensics Duo Series)

Introduction

As a former Forensics competitor and now a freelance judge, I have observed that the interpretative categories (poetry, prose, dramatic and humorous interp, duo) tend to be female-heavy. I don't see that as a problem, and it's certainly not because coaches aren't encouraging all of their students, female and male, to try out various categories; it's just fascinating to note. There are a number of reasons for females to be drawn to these interpretative events. Young women are often attracted to opportunities to communicate their feelings, to put across their emotions more than young men. Now whether this is innate or due to societal pressure, I don't know, but whatever the reasons, it's unmistakably noticeable that when I judge poetry, the guys are definitely in the minority.As a high school competitor in the female-dominated categories of interp, or interpretation, I was often in search of new and unique material for myself. I usually had no problem finding poetry and dramatic or comedic interp material, but when it came to the duo category, I was at a loss. I attended an all-girls high school-putting hefty limitations on my duo pairing possibilities. Now, it's not that there wasn't a wealth of plays written with one strong, dynamic female character, but for some reason finding two equally matched, dynamic female characters in the same scene, well, that was nearly impossible. Add to the search criteria that I wanted to find characters that were close to my age range or at least material that spoke to me as a teenager, and I was sunk.In the last ten years, female playwrights have emerged on the theater scene like never before. And because of that, it is easier to find Forensic duo material for two young women-easier, but not easy. That's the feedback I hear from coaches and students competing. So when Janet brought Ira and me on board with the Forensic series and asked us to write the books of plays for female pairs, you can imagine how thrilled I was to be part of it. Finally, a collection of plays devoted to two female characters. What stories I would be able to tell! Women are energized by the relationships they have with other women. Maybe it's because women have a tendency to be more social and outwardly expressive creatures than men. Maybe women are also given more permission to demonstrate our intimacy. It's certainly not that women's relationships with men are less important, but with other women they more clearly hear and see themselves. With other women, they find sympathy, mourn collectively, uncover strength and reach out for needed support to make changes in their lives. It's for these reasons that I could not wait to dig in and get writing these plays.In this book, especially, even more than the comedic book, I wanted to write about the relationships that shape female lives-absorbing, intimate, powerful relationships that women have with other women. We started with the most cherished bonds-sisters, mothers, daughters, best friends and moved through the spectrum of possibilities. The source of inspiration for these pieces varied-sometimes Ira or I ripped the story straight from the headlines; other times it came from our personal lives. Whichever the case, it was our intention to make the characters well-rounded, fascinating, unique, and truthful. It was also our intention to make the stories accessible to young women. And I don't mean by making the material trivial or even youthful, but by dramatizing issues that are present in the newspapers of today-competition for college admission, racial and social animosity, twisted club initiations, prison brutality, and war-subjects not typically covered in "women's" plays.In the following pages, I believe you will find plenty of strong, captivating female characters-characters you recognize and relationships, though set under extreme circumstances, that I trust you will understand. It was Elizabeth Cady Stanton, a nineteenth-century women's rights leader, who once wrote, "I would have girls regard themselves not as adjectives but as nouns." In these plays, we have done our best to make the female characters the nouns and perhaps even the verbs too. I hope you enjoy reading and competing with them. I know when you find one you connect with, it will serve you well. Like Martha, from the last play in the book, Lifting Voices, says "Let the voices of the powerful women you respect and have read about and listened to at conventions talk to your heart now. Quiet the voices of common women in hat shops and a mother beaten down by terrible circumstance. You will not fail, Anna. I am certain beyond anything I've ever been certain about in my entire life."
Barbara Lhota