Usual Girls

by Ming Peiffer (playwright)

"Kyeoung has spent her entire life negotiating the double standards imposed on her as an Asian-American woman. Bullied by boys in childhood, ostracized by girls as a teen, and gas-lit by men as an adult, her experiences with sexuality grow more and more challenging. As we trace Kyeoung from the insecurity of puberty to the disenchantment of her adult life, USUAL GIRLS chronicles the wonder, pain, and complexity of growing up female"--Page [4] of cover.

Genres: Plays, Drama

71 pages, Unknown Binding

Published January 1, 2019

Reviews

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lived up to the play as I remember it. The way the structure becomes crystal clear in the last moment is without equal in any other play.

[Leylamaría · Rating 4 out of 5]

WOMAN
It never fucking stops.

—

I can’t imagine what seeing this on stage would be like holy SHIT............

[joy彡 · Rating 3 out of 5]

a bit of a hodgepodge mess but so is life i guess

[Lizzy Murray]

a play that focuses on how complicated and hard it is to grow up as a woman, especially a woman of color, and the traumatic/inappropriate experiences we all share based on how society views us and our bodies. so very good.

[Jandi Linde · Rating 4 out of 5]

such an honest story, which makes it even more heartbreaking. a much needed narrative

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I hadn't read a play in quite awhile, but I was intrigued by Usual Girls after reading about how it was produced as part of Roundabout Theatre Company's Underground programming back in 2018. This was a bizarre read and uncomfortable — but I anticipate that was Ming Peiffer's intention. Usual Girls strikes me as a play that's in conversation with the work of Sheila Callaghan. In particular, I think there are some parallels between this play and Callaghan's That Pretty Pretty; Or, The Rape Play. Both are explicit, brutal explorations of what it means to be a woman in America and the fetishization of women's bodies in society. Peiffer's play centers on young Asian-American woman Kyeoung. Each scene is a vignette from a different period in Kyeoung's life, from elementary school through to adulthood. We see Kyeoung discovering her sexuality, contending with the harsh realities of female friendship, and trying to navigate what it means to be a woman in a male-dominated world. The result is a brutal and bizarre script that weaves in and out of these vignettes. I'm not sure how I feel about it, and I imagine it was pretty wild to see this on the stage. I do admire that Peiffer has given us another play that explores the challenges that come with being a young woman — along with all of the pressure to simultaneously be sexual and pure, and the unique complexities of female friendship.

[Lesley Dzik]

I read this for an audition tomorrow for the role of Woman. It's both intriguing and troubling. I appreciate that the playwright wrote it, and as a woman who grew up Chinese-American in the Midwest, I can relate to many of the themes.

The script is making me wonder why I would want to be in the play. Would I tell anyone I was in it? Who would even attend? Why would anyone attend? It's very thought-provoking, to say the least. I'm having to dig deep inside myself to ask things like, "What's the purpose of theater?" "Is this how I want to tell my story, find my voice?"

My children were active in youth theater, playing in classics like Fiddler on the Roof and Willy Wonka. I'm guessing they never had to soul search like I am right now in facing this script and this audition.

[Roxanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

(i can't decide if this is a 4.5 or a 5 star.) as an asian-american woman, this play is haunting and embarrassingly (for me) relatable. funny and jaw-dropping (perhaps not always in the best way). and some of these characters.....the audacity....

also i have a feeling that anna goes to nyu and kyeoung either got rejected/deferred or got a better financial aid offer from an upstate school but wants to live that nyu life. i only say this bc the only stereotypes i know about nyu kids are that 1) they hang out at wsp too much and 2) c0ke.

in short, this was an accidentally fun read (i have to perform a monologue for class so i bought this upon recommendation) at 11:30.

[Juliette II · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a powerful show covering a lot of difficult material. We must have these conversations if we are truly going to address the issues and challenges women of all races face from childhood through adulthood. Includes just enough humor to not completely crush your audience. Trigger warning required.

Flexible set. Requires at least two Asian actors. 7 w / 2 m but room for flexible casting.

[Lauren Mural · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this. it really speaks to the universal experience of being a girl growing up in this society. the excitement, dread, harassment, difficulties in every capacity are very realistic and heartfelt and heartbreaking. it bridges uncomfortable realities and tender moments and ultimately paints a very accurate picture of growing up.

[Joseph · Rating 4 out of 5]

A powerful play about bullying, being ostracized by your peers, and being gas lit as an adult, a young Asian-American girl, Kyeoung breaks your heart. The playwright is one to watch. I felt so much for this main character.

[Abie Marshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was not what I was expecting. Even after the first act. I felt like some things were only there for the shock factor, unnecessary.

[Nihar · Rating 3 out of 5]

hm I don't really know what I think yet. Very intense for sure. Very on the nose commentary.

[Lilou LS · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. How beautiful. How painful. The beauty and the pain of the play results on how relatable it is. Very good, very very good.

Ps : If you like Jeremy O Harris, you will love Ming Peiffer.

[Eleanor McCaughey]

It never fucking stops.

[maddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow

[chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

cut the cameras too real too real

[Katherine Connor · Rating 2 out of 5]

Deeply disturbing.

[Sarah Swiderski · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exuberant, tender, and heartbreaking play that deserved a broadway run.