Hello friends! This week’s play has a few content warnings: discussions of transphobia and homophobia; use of needles on page; physical violence (wrestling, not describing in detail). If you can’t interface with any of those topics right now, I totally understand and will see you next week. <3

The Wolves by Sarah Delappe. Athena by Gracie Gardner. FLEX by Candrice Jones. What do they all have in common?

1. I adore each one of them.

2. They’re all at least a liiiittle gay.

3. They all center around young women playing sports that I don’t give a rats ass about in real life.

I’ve never been a sports girlie— in fact, the first coherent thought I can ever remember having was, “I hate running,” which was prompted by the soccer league I was forced to play in at four years old. By no means am I sporty, athletic, or in any way interested in participating in sports. And yet, these plays listed above intrigue me to no end!

PIN. by Sam Mueller is in the same boat.

I would venture to say that Mueller’s piece discussing trans athletes in sports is a cousin or sibling to these previously mentioned plays. Essentially, if you like any of the previous plays I listed, you will also love PIN.

Many thanks to the subscriber who requested this one!

Here is the summary of PIN. by Sam Mueller from NPX:

Nonbinary high school athlete Jo Wagner has been kicked off their wrestling team for being on testosterone, but their rival MJ McKinnon is determined to have one final showdown before graduation. As the local community becomes more invested in their rivalry, their final, “unofficial” match causes both fascination and conflict. With joy, insight, and nuance, PIN. questions the arbitrary nature of gender binaries and imagines a world in which nonbinary and trans kids can thrive.

This play was a Finalist for the O’Neill National Playwright’s Conference not once, not twice, but three times. And it’s easy to see why— this play just flows. It’s smooth like butter, honey. The dialogue is realistic, intriguing, and gives us all the information we need to understand the story without being expositional. It’s bare bones in that there is absolutely nothing included that I would say is “unnecessary”. The scenes melt into one another without losing any clarity. Basically, it’s a fun and pleasurable read.

The main conflict centers around the character of Jo Wagner, an AFAB nonbinary teenager who has just begun taking testosterone. This probably wouldn’t be a public issue normally, but Jo is a wrestling star. Of course, the people in their Midwestern town got all up in arms about them taking testosterone and wrestling girls— so Jo quits with an explosive speech.

But their rival, MJ McKinnon, simply will not have that. MJ wants to do one final match with Jo before she goes to college on a wrestling scholarship. One last battle with her nemesis in front of the whole town to decide who’s really the best. And she will stop at nothing to get it, testosterone and protestors and school board meetings be damned!

In the background of all of this, current high school biology teacher and former wrestling star, Tom Rodgers, tries desperately to teach his students about gender diversity while navigating parental complaints and a principal who just wants to keep things easy— no matter the cost to her morals.

Both of these stories intertwine to explore what it means to be trans, nonbinary, and/or gender non-conforming in a society that still insists on supporting a gender binary. I loved that Mueller attacks this theme from all angles— the sports angle, of course, but also from scientific and social standpoints. The story is strengthened by the nuanced and thorough discussion of the topic by all the characters.

Truly, this play is a master class in the playwriting version of the old primary school saying, “dot dot, not a lot”. Nothing is unnecessary— every single line and stage direction serves the story, making for a dynamic and satisfying reading experience that I know would translate very well to the stage. The characters are likable, heartfelt, and allowed to be larger than life through the lenses of both professional and amateur wrestling.

As someone who was a set designer for a similar play (Athena by Gracie Gardner), this script presents a very fun and inspiring premise for designers as well. I was excited by the notion of this ever-present wrestling ring and how it was used meta-theatrically. As a playwright, this meta-theatricality inspired me as well. I adore it when plays use space this way to explore theme and conflict!

Essentially, what I learned from this play was not only a sense of restraint, but excellent use of subtext. There is so much space for the creative team to play in while effectively telling the story that Mueller is trying to tell. I imagine actors especially having a great time creating their own interpretations of the characters. As a playwright who still occasionally performs, I strive to do this in my own work, so it’s nice to have a great example to return to!

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Here is my official recommendation on NPX:

An absolutely phenomenally written play, structured like a dream and full of lively characters. The use of the wrestling ring as not only a framing device but as an "other" place where the characters work out their shit with each other is genius. This play discusses pertinent and important issues regarding trans rights that is needed now more than ever.

What do you think of this play? Let me know in the comments!

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Here are three more plays I found intriguing this week:

• This is Not a Noh Play by Miz Hashimoto

• A Lovely Day to Kill Your Spouse by Lindsey Brown

• Sailboat Lullaby by Irene Zhiyi Chen

Want me to read one of these plays, or have a suggestion of your own? Let me know by responding to this post via email or DMing me in the SubStack app!

Happy theatre making!

~Brynn