WHEN THEY SEE ME (ONE ACT VERSION) by Twinkle Burke

Patrice James is a widow, living with her teenage son, Lindell, who has skipped school, jeopardized his scholarships, and left home without his phone. They moved out of New York City because of racial tensions and a family tragedy. Patrice has made sacrifices to make sure they will be able to survive and fight racial injustices together. Lindell shows up a changed man and both discuss and come to terms with...
Patrice James is a widow, living with her teenage son, Lindell, who has skipped school, jeopardized his scholarships, and left home without his phone. They moved out of New York City because of racial tensions and a family tragedy. Patrice has made sacrifices to make sure they will be able to survive and fight racial injustices together. Lindell shows up a changed man and both discuss and come to terms with truths revealed and how to move forward.
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WHEN THEY SEE ME (ONE ACT VERSION)

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  • Jillian Blevins:
    16 Aug. 2022
    “ The magical-realist premise of Burke's play is an incisive combination of body-horror and the perils of whitewashing and respectability politics. This mother-son face-off explores an uncomfortable and perennial question: are oppressed people stronger when they remain connected to their cultural and familial history, or are they able to do more good if they distance themselves from their people and their past? I look forward to hearing more from Twinkle Burke's thoughtful and daring perspective. ”
  • Alli Hartley-Kong:
    9 Aug. 2022
    “ This is a stunning play that I would love to see produced. It takes a "freaky Friday" concept and adds so much more to it. The strength of the play is the strength of the authenticity of the relationships and the honesty of experience and perspective Burke brings to this. I look forward to reading more plays by this playwright. ”
  • Emma Goldman-Sherman:
    11 Feb. 2021
    “ THIS! It's a great concept but Burke is also able to make it much more than a parlor trick - this has legs and moves me. Hell, it carries me along into some fabulous territory - our racist world - in a new way. This creates meaning and takes the piece and its audience to a whole other level of real. I look forward to seeing it staged! MUST BE PRODUCED. Burke is a treasure! ”
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Black woman- appears old enough to have a teenage son, recognizing that Black Women and many POC do not appear to be their chronological age.

European/Caucasian teenage male-cannot appear to be a BIPOC and must *not* affect a dialect or accent to sound like a POC.

WHEN THEY SEE ME *Must* be directed by a BIPOC, preferably a woman.