crisis

by Beckett Flynn

[2025 O'Neill Semi-Finalist] Clarence, transmasc, an addict, bursts through the door. He tries to get Floyd out of the room without telling him he just stole 10,000 dollars from his ex-girlfriend. She hates him — but that's because he's a toxin who ruins lives, not the money thing. A gunshot just blew out his window but if he can get out alive then maybe... just maybe...

[2025 O'Neill Semi-Finalist] Clarence, transmasc, an addict, bursts through the door. He tries to get Floyd out of the room without telling him he just stole 10,000 dollars from his ex-girlfriend. She hates him — but that's because he's a toxin who ruins lives, not the money thing. A gunshot just blew out his window but if he can get out alive then maybe... just maybe...

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crisis

Recommended by

  • Shaun Leisher: crisis by Beckett Flynn
    “

    A bloody thriller of a play. Great roles for trans* actors. This is going to be a blast for fight directors to take on.

    A bloody thriller of a play. Great roles for trans* actors. This is going to be a blast for fight directors to take on.

    ”
  • Kyle Smith: crisis by Beckett Flynn
    “

    This play has everything. Gangs, guns, talk of another kind of strap, everything you want from a gritty thriller, turned up to 11, and Clarence is 100% the action hero we didn't know we needed. We need more trans thrillers, and Flynn delivers this one with commendable force, authenticity, and action. I can't wait to see this one live.

    This play has everything. Gangs, guns, talk of another kind of strap, everything you want from a gritty thriller, turned up to 11, and Clarence is 100% the action hero we didn't know we needed. We need more trans thrillers, and Flynn delivers this one with commendable force, authenticity, and action. I can't wait to see this one live.

    ”
  • Maximillian Gill: crisis by Beckett Flynn
    “

    I'm astonished by how deftly Flynn combines the tropes of the gritty thriller with an achingly beautiful character piece. The title refers to a quote that could serve as a central metaphor, except that it's undercut within the play, which feels like a meta-metaphor for the play itself as all of the things that the characters think they care about slowly fall away until we are left with an arresting final image. I love that Flynn includes references to the very works the play pays homage to. It's all here, but so is the desperate poignancy of human need.

    I'm astonished by how deftly Flynn combines the tropes of the gritty thriller with an achingly beautiful character piece. The title refers to a quote that could serve as a central metaphor, except that it's undercut within the play, which feels like a meta-metaphor for the play itself as all of the things that the characters think they care about slowly fall away until we are left with an arresting final image. I love that Flynn includes references to the very works the play pays homage to. It's all here, but so is the desperate poignancy of human need.

    ”
View all 5 recommendations

Character Information

  • Clarence
    Mid twenties. Transmasc. Impulsive. Magnetic. Dyed blonde hair. Punky. Crucifix necklace or tat. He/they. Ronnie is one of the few women he’s ever been interested in. Tougher than he looks — he can take a hell of a beating. Regular NA attendee. Petty criminal. Softness behind his eyes. Wants to be something different than what he was. A brother figure to Floyd— his protector. Raised catholic. Narcotics addict. Not sober.
    mid twenties
    Trans man
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man,
      Non-binary
  • Floyd
    Late twenties. Large. Kind. Cautious. Reserved. Messy hair. Sweatshirt. Not fashionable. Not ambitious. Not in touch. He/him. Has gone through serious dark patches but is content now. Tough childhood. Cares about Clarence more than anything in the world. Undiagnosed ADHD and autism. Though he often behaves in ways that read as childlike, he is not stupid.
    Late twenties
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man
  • Veronica "Ronnie"
    Early twenties. Impulsive. Bold. Funny. Trans. She/her. From protestant stock, but a mischievous streak, addiction issues, and a break from the Ivy League path has caused her family to disown her. Lots of tattoos — mainly small linework tattoos — but enough to really cover her arms. A lot of hair. Knew Clarence at his worst. Has a sort of sisterly affection despite her anger and attraction. Alcoholic and pill addict. Three months sober.
    early twenties
    Trans woman
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • Rat
    Late Twenties. Transmasc. Buzzcut. Works on cars. Always dressed for function. They/them. Chronic pain that hasn’t broken them, but dignified them — given them an air of being an elder, wise beyond their years. Work and care has driven most sense of inwardness out of them. Disaffected anarchist activist who enlisted in the army for a discipline they felt was lacking. Came back a jaded, hurt, efficient, veteran. Recovering narcotics addict — three years sober.
    mid twenties
    Non-binary
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Non-binary
  • Gabe
    Mid twenties Latino. Cis man. Busboy in the day and works on entrepreneurial endeavors at night. Lots of solid color t-shirts, sneakers, and skinny jeans — because that’s what was cool when he was a teenager and why should that change in his twenties? Came from a rough background but does a lot to hide it — doesn’t like to present himself as working class, lower class, or any form of “tough”. Never used drugs or alcohol and prides himself on it.
    mid twenties
    Latino
    Cis male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Latinx/o/a or Hispanic
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man

Development History

  • Reading, The Spade Collective, 2024
  • Reading, Fresh Binder Productions, Transgender/Non Binary Writer's Cohort, 2024
  • Reading, The Spade Collective, 2023