FringeNYC 2013: Bully

Review by Heather McAllister · August 10, 2013

When you see someone like Lee J. Kaplan – extraordinarily fit, well spoken and handsome – it’s easy to project an breezy confidence, to imagine that their life must be a piece of cake. But in his one man show, Bully, Kaplan lowers his put together façade, revealing the vulnerable, joyous little boy who’s enthusiasm and uniqueness, as he says, “painted a big ole bully target” right on his back. Kaplan literally takes us into the boxing ring, where he challenges the bullies of his past, and their resonating echoes in his present, in “the fight of his life.”

“It ain’t about how hard you hit, it’s about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward. How much you can take, and keep moving forward, that’s how winning is done,” says ultimate underdog, Rocky Balboa. Kaplan shows us in one hour how he took that philosophy to heart, and found the strength to persevere.

Illustrated with excerpts from his sixth grade journal, we see his blatant cries for help (written in adorable little kid cursive) ignored by his supposed protectors. He details well meaning playdates gone horribly wrong, and authority figures who are bullies themselves. Being different, being ostracized, “Spock ears,” “teacher's pet,” not having the skill set to stop this abuse, his pain is palpable. But, he keeps moving forward, and comes out somehow on the other side.

I too have “Spock ears,” and was tormented in Jr. High, in High school, I saw my brother and boyfriend beat up by bully jocks. Worst for me, my son was targeted by violent creeps in Middle school, and I was powerless, each time, to make it stop.

Although bullying’s not as hushed up these days, many people still either downplay it, or blame the victim. It can push you over the edge of despair literally, or emotionally. Enough bullying and you take the job over for them, even after the bullies themselves are long gone. You trash talk and sabotage yourself. People look, they see the outside, seemingly confident, seemingly past all past abuse, but those internal bullies keep on swinging. How do we stop their nasty whisperings? How do we learn to fight back? This bullying aftershock, and how to stop it, is clearly and compassionately addressed in the play.

Using clever graphics by Noah Diamond, Lee outlines four anti bully steps he follows, as he knocks out the ghosts of four particularly vile bullies past. Kaplan gives solid, workable advice for people of any age. I hope this play has a long life, it has an important message, told in an accessible format. I wish my Junior High Spock-eared self could have seen it. And I was thankful to hear it tonight, with my son by my side.

Beautiful lighting by Katie Chai, smooth direction by Padraic Lillis, and a solid performance by Kaplan make Bully a must see. Kaplan is a man of action. He fights through the pain, and comes out a winner. Like Rocky before him, he is an inspiration. I might just take up boxing.