Trigger Warning: This article contains mention of sexual assault.
There is a new show in town called “Mock” that every college student should watch. Penn State’s very own third-year student, Miriam Colvin, wrote this play to “depict the world young women live in today” and represent the everyday anxieties they’re forced to face.
Miriam Colvin is a playwright, director and performer from Jupiter, Florida. She began writing “Mock” last semester as a reaction to observing “how young women surrounding [her] on campus spoke about how it feels to be a woman.”
“I heard conversations of the pressure [women] feel to maintain their self-image, the mistreatment from young men, and the expectations placed upon them to be more sexual or not be too sexual,” said Colvin.
These pressures became Colvin’s inspiration for this story and its main character, Julie. Julie is an intelligent, hopeful and driven student that faces a very common fear many college students have: public speaking.
To overcome this fear, Julie joins a college Mock Trial team. This team helps her to academically develop as she overcomes her fear of public speaking and decides on a major. However, a member of the team takes advantage of the friendly relationship he has with Julie, and one decision he makes changes her life forever.
Julie is sexually assaulted by a fellow Mock Trial member at a party that is supposed to be a celebration for the team. This traumatic event deeply affects Julie’s life and fills her with fear, doubt and anxiety.
Julie tries to get help but is faced with victim blaming from most of the people she goes to. Some people listened to her and then asked her how much she drank or if she ever flirted with her Mock Trial counterpart. She gets told that since the incident didn’t happen on the college’s campus, no formal punishment can be put into action.
Audience members watch as Julie struggles with the effects on her everyday life because of this event, but then how she grows, finds her voice and stands up for herself when rarely anyone else will.
The way our society treats victims of sexual assault is accurately portrayed in Colvin’s writing and the direction of Dr. Jeanmarie Higgins, head of the B.A. Theatre Studies program. The parallel between the practiced trial in the play and the experience Julie faces is exceptional.
“This play is about overcoming,” said Colvin. “It depicts how overcoming trauma can lead to a reclaim of clarity and strength. It’s about the desire to be loved, to find belonging, and to overcome great obstacles with determination. And through this, though these characters are changed, they are overwhelmingly supported.”
This play is so important for college women to see because it touches on topics and situations that, unfortunately, so many women face during their four years. From struggling with change, pushing out of your comfort zone, dealing with a traumatic event or trying to find your voice, this show is guaranteed to resonate with every audience member in one way or another.
“Mock” is being put on in collaboration with the Penn State B.A. Theatre Studies Program and School of Theatre. The first premiere of “Mock” was this Monday, October 24, and its additional showings are Tuesday, October 25 and Wednesday, October 26 at 7 p.m. in the Penn State Downtown Theatre. Tickets can be reserved here.
Similar to this article, the play itself has a trigger warning for sexual violence, language, alcohol and drug use, bullying and hazing.
Resources from Centre Safe (sexual assault help center) include their 24-hour hotline number, 814-234-5050, and their website, centresafe.org. These resources will also be provided at the show.