(TW: Mentions of Homophobia, Physical Assault, Suicide)
If you take away dialogue, how much of a story can you tell? Turns out, a lot. This is the question St Benedict’s answered at the FEDA finals. A cross between
an interpretive dance and a high class production, we were presented a story about love, pack mentality, and homophobia.
The set is simple; a double-sided door- one side, a basketball court- the other, a porch with streetlights. Props? A couple basketballs and a basketball pump. It cannot be more simple, and yet the plot is anything but that.
We meet Seko, a basketball player who is in charge of pumping the balls. We can sense that there is tension, but we’re not sure why. Soon, we meet the whole basketball team. The boys are mirrors of male teams you’ll find on any court; confident, boastful, passionate. They represent the cool kids you were scared to walk passed in the corridors. They are the jocks. It’s not very clear from the start, but we get an understanding that Seko plays a big role in this team- possibly the role of Captain. The boys begin an incredible scene of interpretive dance and physical theatre, complete with leaps and twirls, and astounding basketball skills. This is their element and the air is ripe with testosterone and male ego.
After practice, Seko stays behind, watching another player- Reece- take off his shirt. There is no dialogue, but you could cut the tension with a knife. The next practice rumours fly as Seko is surrounded by his teammates. “Did you hear Seko’s gay?” we hear echo. Seko is forced to leave, and here we see the streetlight.
Seko’s porch. Out from the darkness, Reece approaches. The two talk for a bit, and slowly they form their own dance. “They're exploring each other’s bodies,” someone said next to me. Whether this is true or not, the two boys make a connection. “See you Thursday at practice,” Reece says as he leaves. Seko smiles as he goes inside.
This cuts to the next scene- Seko pumping the balls as normal. His teammates file in, circling him like a pack of wolves, calling him every slur under the sun. Reece is no help, knowing that he’d be met with the same fate if he dares to speak up. Seko is exposed to so much violence it was hard to watch. We see the fear in his eyes as he’s pushed around, the lump in his throat as he screams for help. He leaves, going back to his porch. Seko, destroyed, terrified, and hurt, pumps his final basketball until it explodes, representing a gunshot.
The next practice comes with a team of ashamed and heartbroken boys, well aware of the damage they caused. We watch as they fail to do any meaningful practices, and are greeted by Seko in all white. We watch what would happen if he was there, the team flourishing with every pass.
The message is clear and effective, but simple enough to grasp immediately. I cannot imagine how many months it took to perfect the physical performances.
These boys, who wrote, directed, and produced the whole play, are incredible. They are going places greater than what we can imagine, and I wish them all the best.
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