We all know
what it feels like to be lonely, to be afraid of being different, or of being
judged. It is a feeling that comes with living in our society. Often however,
we forget that we are not the only ones who feel this way. Every single other
person around us has felt the same way before, and if we really think about it,
there is no reason for us to feel this way.
The play A Friend, by Anika Benkov, explores this
unfortunate mentality that we all have lived with, and tries to answer the
question of why do we perceive being different as a bad thing? Maya, a twenty
four year old woman, is a loner – not by choice, but rather because the people
in her life do not like her company. But naturally Maya, just like all people,
wants to be liked and to have friends, so she hires herself a friend off of
craigslist. This play delves into the cruelty of society, and the effect of
pressure from others to be “normal.”
My friend is
extremely self-conscious. She is unhappy with her hair, her nose, her anxiety,
her chest size, and so on and so forth. But it shocks me to hear all these
insecurities because when I look at her, I see one of the most beautiful,
funny, and amazing people I have ever had the pleasure to meet, and I do not
understand how she does not see that. Knowing how insecure she is despite how
flawless everyone else thinks she is, makes me wonder if the same applies to me
and everyone else. I too have a long list of insecurities, but maybe that is
just my fear talking.
I am sure we
all know someone who is very insecure, despite them having absolutely no reason
to be. Well I can promise you, whatever your insecurities may be, there are
people around you who see those “flaws” as pieces of the great person you are. Now
of course I am not saying that you are
necessarily funny, or fit to be
America’s Next Top Model, or that everyone likes you, or that you fit every
description of what society views as “perfect.” On the contrary, I am saying
that maybe you are not funny, or “thin enough,” or smart, but we need to learn
to embrace the parts of ourselves that we cannot change. And if we do decide to
make a change, we need to be sure that we are doing it for ourselves, and not
for the approval of others.
Think of all
the things that have occurred since the beginning of time, to create you.
Imagine how many countless things needed to happen exactly as they did for you
to be the way you are. I do not know about you, but from my perspective, how
can that possibly mean that you are not “good enough” the way you are?
A Friend by
Anika Benkov will be playing in the Strawberry
One Act Festival on July 15 (Friday) at 9pm, July 17 (Sunday) at
9pm, and July 23 (Saturday) at 1pm, at the Theatre at St. Clement’s, 423 West
46th Street, NYC
A FRIEND by Anika Benkov
A young woman
hires a friend off of Craigslist. The play follows their relationship and
explores themes of growing up, trust, boundaries, and intimacy between women in
an internet age.
Friday, July
15th at 9pm
Sunday, July
17th at 9pm
Saturday, July
23rd at 1pm
