Benjamin Sprung –Keyser addresses school bullying in one act play

 From  left Kevin Six, Corey King, Nir Mate-Solomon, and Andrew Poole.  Photo  Ken Jacques.

By Sara Appel-Lennon

SAN DIEGO- Charlie asks why Steven always picks on him. “It’s like you’re my prey or something. I’m strong, you’re weak, I make the rules,” said Steven.

How does one get a bully to back off? Is it necessary to bully in return?

Based upon bullying incidents reported in the news, Benjamin Sprung-Keyser, age16, wrote the play, “What All School Children Learn”. His play was one of three scripts chosen from 242 submissions to the 2009 California Young Playwright’s Contest. Anne Tran directed it and professional actors staged it.

The play is “not a lesson in how to bully or how to avoid bullying,” said Sprung-Keyser. The title and the playwright’s most telling line come from the poem, September 1, 1939 written by W. H. Auden.

“I and the public know/  What all school
children learn, / Those to whom evil is done, /  
Do evil in return.”
–W. H. Auden

Auden refers to World War II in his poem. The stanza was a “perfect articulation” of the point of the play. It showed “a small scale version of things that happen in the real world,” said Sprung-Keyser.

The play begins in a middle school when Charlie 11 years old, (Andrew Poole) prepares to eat his lunch. Two older boys Steven 15 years old, (Nir Mate-Solomon) and Cooper, 15 years old, (Corey King) harass Charlie every day at school. Both bullies are bigger and stronger than Charlie. The boys did not know each other before the harassment started.

Every day Steven eats part of Charlie’s lunch and ruins the rest of his food. Steven and Cooper toss Charlie in the trash can, throw his books on the ground, and Steven dangles him by his feet. When Charlie gives orders to Steven to pick up his books, Charlie is forced to pick up his own books while Steven still holds him upside down by his feet.

Charlie asks why he’s being picked on. “It’s like you’re my prey or something. I’m strong, you’re weak, I make the rules,” Steven said.

Charlie uses strategies a kid would use to deal with the bullying. He sobs at home, feigns illness, and admits to his parents he can’t go to school. “It’s too dangerous,” Charlie said.

Charlie’s father, Martin (Joe Salazzo) tries to teach him to fight. But it doesn’t work because of Charlie’s small size and fighting is not his style.

Charlie’s mother, Katherine (Susan Hammons) and his father, Martin then meet with the principal, Mr. Barkley, (Kevin Six), to resolve their son’s torment. The principal complains about and attends to his own aching back but he neglects to watch Charlie’s back.

Mr. Barkley gives excuses for not protecting Charlie. He said there is one teacher per 100 students to watch on the playground. He can’t take care of every child. He insists that maybe Charlie provoked Steven.

Charlie realizes that asking for help doesn’t work. He then handles the matter himself. He uses an unconventional means to defend himself. He finds a chink in Steven’s armor and he uses brains instead of brawn.

“I won’t play by your rules because I can’t win by them,” said Charlie.

The consequences of Charlie’s actions cause him to be ostracized and alienated. He is now called “The terrorist of the playground” and he realizes that “maybe a terrorist makes up his own rules.” In Charlie’s case, the line between right and wrong is blurred.

“One man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter,” said Sprung-Keyser.

What did the Playwright intend to say about bullying?  “There is no single message of the play. It is meant to spark discussion,” said, Sprung-Keyser.

Most likely the audience will leave with their own messages and discussions will spark after seeing “What All School Children Learn.”

Sprung-Keyser deserves kudos for addressing this serious topic by showing opposing view points on stage.

Author’s note:
Sprung-Keyser has strong interpersonal skills. “Acting appropriately and being thankful are entrenched in Judaism,” said Sprung-Keyser.

 His father first introduced him to W. H. Auden’s poem while Sprung-Keyser studied the history of World War II.

Sprung-Keyser competed in the Middle East with Harvard-Westlake High School Debate Team in Los Angeles, California, just days before his Opening Night.

*

Appel-Lennon is a San Diego-based freelance writer. She may be contacted at  appels@jewishsightseeing.com