David Mays, 24, portrays Sissy at all ages in ‘Growing and Learning with
Sissy,’ a Web site play produced in Oklahoma. He says he was drawn to the
play because, ‘In my childhood and adolescence, I was in my own world and
a loner. I never really fit in with any particular group or clique.’ (Photo
courtesy of TaRsplace.com)
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MARK REILLEY
Friday, March 19, 2004
EVERY GAY PERSON MAKES THE journey from realizing they are gay to fully accepting
of this fact.
Robert Matson, a struggling writer in Oklahoma City, did. But rather than
keeping it to himself, he decided to share his experience with the world by
re-enacting it in on the Internet.
He wrote a play called, “Growing and Learning with Sissy,” cast
his friends and associates as actors, videotaped the production and released
it in five-minute serialized segments on his Web site at www.TaRsplace.com.
The inspiration for “Sissy” came from a series of frustrating
rejection letters Matson had received from publishing houses and theatrical
organizations. If no one else would publish his plays, he decided he’d
do it himself.
“I decided to promote myself as a writer through the Web, but I wanted
to go a step further. I wanted to entertain my viewers and to keep them coming
back,” he says.
His first Web play, “Sissy” is based on his own coming out, though
he admits he spiced it up with fantasy elements like a fairy God stripper and
an overly butch bully to give the story “some theatrical punch.”
Calling on his 20 years of stage experience, Matson, 40, wrote, directed and
videotaped “Sissy,” the story of an effeminate gay boy who grows
from kindergarten to adulthood.
“The concept was to shoot it like an actual stage play; no film tricks,
just the actors performing from beginning to end as if the viewer were actually
watching a mini-play,” he says.
With technical support from his partner, Terry Girton, the two released the
production on the Internet at www.TaRsplace.com (short for “Terry and
Robert’s place”). Like a soap opera or a comic strip, successive
five-minute segments are uploaded most Sunday evenings.
Performed by a diverse cast of 30 Oklahoman actors, students and friends,
the first six “Webisodes,” focus on a different aspect of title
character Sissy’s coming out experience. Themes range from childhood “I’m
different” revelations and playground bullying to adolescent confusion
and isolation. Other episodes addressed Sissy’s first kiss and his encounters
with the club scene.
Tara Henry, 28, who works for a gas company by day and volunteers on “Sissy” at
night, hopes viewers will connect with the play’s theme of acceptance.
“I hope they’ll reflect on their own lives and see a commonality
between themselves and the issues in the play,” she says. “From
there, maybe they’ll see something they can do to bridge [society’s]
aggression against differences.”
The singer-guitarist felt strongly connected to the Webisode about bullying.
“I related to the part of Sissy feeling lost and lonely,” she
says. “I think we all are searching at different points in our lives
for who we are, and it’s scary. Growing up, I got picked on for my red
hair and my weight. It’s hard enough to face life, but even tougher with
others judging you, saying you must be or do things this or that way. I really
enjoy it when Sissy owns his individuality with strength.”
Despite the subject matter, Sissy is not all emotional sturm und drang. The
melodrama is countered with Matson’s ample humor.
“I love to make people laugh and make them think, too. I love to teach
and entertain through humor,” he says. “I’m a big supporter
of the arts and the GLBT community so it makes me feel good that I’m
doing my part for both the arts and the gay community.”
Of course, he says, “it wouldn’t hurt if a producer or agent took
an interest in my work, too.”
Matson is not concerned that the sets aren’t works of art or the acting
flawless. “The concept of my scenes is not to have everything look so
perfect, instead it’s all in the words and the characters.” The
production is campy, the acting sometimes over-the-top, but the theme remains
the same: self-acceptance.
“I believe every individual in this world, whether they care to admit
it or not, has felt out of place at one time in their life.” says Matson. “I
want people to know that it’s OK to be who they are and to embrace their
differences.”
Though the production values are simple with minimal sound effects and visuals,
the messages are poignant. One week Sissy is singled out in grade school for
running like a girl, the next his grandparents wonder aloud why he can’t
just be like other boys. At first Sissy is delighted that he is unique but
then he realizes that differences can lead to isolation and bullying.
David Mays, 24, plays Sissy at all ages. He was drawn to the play because
he related to the feelings of isolation. “In my childhood and adolescence,
I was in my own world and a loner. I never really fit in with any particular
group or clique,” he says.
The University of Central Oklahoma graduate was also intrigued by the play’s
unique delivery. Mays says, “I was extremely moved [by the script] and
fell in love with it. I found the idea of filming it and putting it on the
Web wonderfully different and exciting. I’m having a blast with it.”
Mays hopes viewers will learn to embrace their differences rather than run
from them.
“I’ve been called ‘weird’ many times in my life and
at first it [seemed] a very bad thing, but now I love it,” he says. “I’m
not normal and I’m proud of it, damn it!”
Matson keeps production costs low through creative frugality. “I use
whatever I can to make something out of nothing. I made the huge cross for
the ‘God’ scene out of some old wood I found in my yard,” he
says.
Local theaters lend costumes, props and set decorations, his garage doubles
as the studio. “I try to be my own gay Wal-mart and look for falling
prices.” It also helps that the entire “Sissy” company of
actors volunteers their time.
After Matson shoots the play, his partner handles the post-production editing
and Web site maintenance. In addition to the plays, TaRsplace.com promotes
a wide variety of information about local gay theater, art gallery displays
and entertainment.
Ultimately, Matson hopes to show the world, or at least the people who visit
his Web site, that all people — effeminate and butch, gay and straight — just
want to belong.
“Like everyone else they crave happiness, health, security, love and
to simply exist without discrimination or judgment,” he says.
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