A series of mini-dramas based on public conversations, as overheard and rewritten by local playwright/director Aurora Stewart de Peña.
Overheard outside a bar across the street from the San Diego Comic Con
A rooftop Pac-Man-themed video game party. Many comic book enthusiasts and former straight-“A” students mingle, holding plastic cups of Dan Aykroyd vodka and local limited-edition pineapple beer.
Downstairs, Dustin, in his early thirties, has a Stormtrooper sticker on each cheek. He is wearing a backpack that resembles a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle half-shell and calf-length shorts with pockets on the thighs.
Darryl is wearing black pants and a jacket with the word “security” embroidered on the breast pocket. He holds a clipboard.
Dustin: Hello to you, Sir.
Darryl: Hello.
Dustin: I would like to come to this party.
Darryl: Okay.
What’s your name?
Dustin: Dustin.
Darryl: What’s your last name?
Dustin: My name is Dustin Smith-Gillis.
Darryl begins flipping through the pages clipped onto his clipboard.
Dustin: That’s Dustin Smith-Gillis the first. I’m going to name my son Dustin Smith-Gillis the Second.
The legend begins.
Dustin laughs.
Dustin: Ha, ha, ha!
I’m not on your list.
Darryl: No, you’re right, you’re not on the list.
Dustin: But there’s a simple solution.
Dustin takes off his Ninja Turtle backpack. He unzips it. He rummages around. He pulls out a special edition Sailor Moon Gel Pen in Mercury Pink. He hands the pen to Darryl.
Dustin: Write my name on the list.
Darryl looks at the pen.
Darryl: Man, I’m sorry, this is V.I.P. only.
Darryl and Dustin look up at the partygoers on the rooftop in time to see a woman with a 1950s fashion aesthetic pose for a digital camera with one hand on her hip and a consciously seductive smile.
Dustin: Yes, I can see that. Very Important People.
Dustin turns to leave.
Thank you for your time.
Darryl: Hey, man–
Dustin turns to face Darryl.
Darryl: I like your style.
____
Aurora Stewart de Peña is half of the theatre company Birdtown & Swanville (the other half is Nika Mistruzzi). You can follow her on Twitter at @Aurorahhh.
For more, follow us on Twitter at @torontostandard, and subscribe to our newsletter.