Experiments and Works in Progress
The Tea Room is a brief script for a scene that is a part of the current long-form performance piece I am developing. The work is using archival material from 60's queer activist groups in Chicago to examine the trajectory of white queer relations to police violence and political power. This scene is based on multiple articles from Mattachine Midwest that describe entrapment techniques used by vice squads to unfairly arrest queer people at locations known for cruising.
It is dark.
A clown stands near a port-a-potty. They look nervous.
Another clown appears from behind the port-a-potty. They are very suave.
Clown 2 sneaks up and taps clown 1 on the shoulder. Clown 1 jumps. Clown 2 smiles and waves seductively.
Clown 1 is nervous, but waves back. Clown 2 steps toward clown 1. Suddenly, they have a teapot.
Clown 1 is somewhat surprised at the very bold, sudden offer. THey are suspicious of clown 2. They try to decline and walk away.
Clown 2 blocks the escape. THey try again. Clown 1 is still hesitant and tries to decline again. Clown 2 then pulls a teacup out of clown 1’s pocket. Clown 1 is embarrassed that their desire for tea is discovered.
Shyly, Clown 1 accepts.
Clown 2 caresses Clown 1’s shoulder, guides clown 1 to the port-a- potty. Politely, they open the door for clown 1.
Clown 1 steps in. Clown 2 follows. The space is tight.
Clown 1 holds up the tea cup up to receive tea. Clown 2 has a spicier idea, tilts up clown 1’s chin. Clown 1 is nervous but excited, opens mouth and crouches a bit, back hand against the wall to brace themselves.
Clown 2 slowly raises the teapot above clown 1, and begins to tip the teapot. But just before any tea can come out, clown 2 pulls handcuffs out, and cuff’s clown 1’s exposed wrist. Clown 1 has a look of fear in their eyes.
Clown 2 gives us a menacing look as they close the door of the port- a- potty.