Are We Freaks
by Bricken Sparacino

Author: Bricken Sparacino

Description: A science fiction comedy exploration of who really is normal and the search for companionship in a world gone askew. What's a claw between friends?

First Produced: 2009
Date Added: 2/12/2012
Content Advisory: Low-key innuendo, humor and one same-sex kiss
Keywords: Comedy · Satire/Parody · Fantasy · Characters are Mostly Young Adults · Gender Identity · Mostly Female Characters · Large Cast Size
1 Act, 55 Minutes
9 Females, 0 Males

NOTE: Are We Freaks is fully protected by copyright law and is subject to royalty. All inquiries concerning production, publication, reprinting or use of this play in any form should be addressed to Rochelle at rd@indietheaternow.com.

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From the Author:

Are We Freaks? began at Groove MaMa’s 24 hour play fun with the dare to write the first thing that came into my head. As you can see from this play, my head is full of wild women inspired by years of reading science fiction books, watching Star Wars and Absolutely Fabulous. I was looking for a framework to unite my imagined women into a play and dreamed of the Wonderful Twins. I woke up in the middle of the night and wrote most of it down, went back to sleep and had a surprise waiting for me in the morning.

In all my work I like to use humor to explore the human condition. I hope this magical tale will entertain and give the audience something to think about at the after party.

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Original Production Information

Are We Freaks was first presented by Comedy Period and Horse Trade Theater Group at the FRIGID New York Festival in February-March 2009, with the following cast and credits:

Bricken Sparacino: Wonder-ful Twin, Annabelle
Jennie Inchausti: Wonder-ful Twin
Melanie Wehrmacher: Caitlin the Cat
Kara M. Tyler: Leslie the Lobster Girl
Joy Gabriel: Abby
Hannah Wolfe: Pam
Annalyse McCoy: Devon
Uma Incrocci: Lizz

Directed by Lori Kee and Bricken Sparacino
Lighting by Maryvel Bergen
Projections Illustrated by Moira Swiatkowski
Stage Managed by Kim Braun

Parts of the play were workshopped with Comedy Period, Groove MaMa and Until Midnight.

Review by Ivanna Cullinan

The Wonder-ful Twins beckon the audience into the world of Are We Freaks? and immediately they set the sly confusions of this piece in motion. These twins are more bound by their twisted relationship than any shared organs. They tease and tempt the audience with vague promises of strange doings and will narrate the audience through the various scenarios, providing an order that would otherwise not exist as these scenes move from the expected to the more tangentially connected. True to sideshow expectations, the show involves a Lobster Girl, Caitlin the Cat, and Abby The Inside Out Girl. However, as these "freaks" evidently walk among us, instead of sideshow routines or stunts, they are presented in scenes from "normal" life. Or are they? What is the mysterious event that entraps Lobster Girl and Caitlin the Cat? How far can Abby the Inside Out Girl be pushed by her sorority sisters before showing her true...colors?

Also included in this other world are "regular" people subjected to the effects of a mysterious mask sold by a carny gypsy type. How it all holds together is not entirely clear, but there is potential here and the piece could interestingly be developed into a stronger indictment of social interactions or more outrageous exploration of extremes and go even further in its promised challenge to the audience. The impulses are all there already.

These light and sometimes meandering scenes are enacted by a talented cast, most notably Uma Incrocci and Bricken Sparacino in a scene in which a mysterious mask grants a wish. Both imbue the situation comedy with moments of real connection and emotion that strengthen the comic fun—as if to suggest that underneath all the freak costuming are people seeking their heart's desire, whether they know it or not.

reviewed at the 2009 FRIGID New York Festival

Excerpt from Are We Freaks

ANNABELLE

God, what is wrong with me? Why can’t I find a guy like you? Oh, great death mask head bring me a male Lizz. Bring me her brother. Oh, mask from the weird store. (Rubs mask shakes it a bit. Lights dim for a second while she does this.) I don’t think this thing works, I asked it for a million dollars, and I didn’t even win a free Diet Coke, and I drink it every day. Lizz, are you sure you don’t have a brother? Lizz. Did you fall asleep on me?

LIZZ

ZZZzzzz…

ANNABELLE

Oh, my god. Maybe you are like a man. (Tosses pillow over behind couch to hit Lizz) How long have I been talking to myself? Wake up!!!

LIZZ

I’m up, I’m up. (She appears from behind the couch and is different, hair pulled back etc.) Oh, my head hurts.

ANNABELLE

(Screams bloody murder) Oh, my god!! How did you get in here? Where is Lizz? You didn’t murder her did you? Don’t kill me!!! I have money in my purse.

LIZZ

What are you talking about? Stop joking, stop yelling. How many mojitos did I have?

ANNABELLE

(Runs to far side of room) I’m not joking, please get out. And tell me what you did to Lizz!!

LIZZ

Well, first I drank too much. Then I fell asleep on the floor. And I think I prayed to a weird mask. But I think Lizz is right here.

ANNABELLE

Where??

LIZZ

Stop it … I don’t get it, I am right here.

ANNABELLE

You are not Lizz, you are a man!!!

FRIGID New York Festival Preview: Audio previews of these FRIGID Festival productions: "Are We Freaks?," "The Expatriates," "Y, Marilyn Unstitched," "Hysteri-Killy," "The Surprise," and "habeas corpus." Host: Trav S.D.