If I Were Kitana

Micro drama

Martha Gonzalez

Loud drumming begins, and suddenly it gets quiet; lights are adorning a downtown park. Lights up on Kitana; maybe she is fourteen, maybe 34, wearing an elegant silk cape that adorns her body. A DRUMMER sits behind a drum set at the back of the main downtown park at the end of the stage. Kitana is thrilled and motivated but tries her best to keep it together.

KITANA: It is late at night, and as we all know, crime never stops. No matter what time of the day it is, there is something probably happening; perhaps a person is getting murdered, or maybe a little child is getting kidnapped, or perhaps even another teenager with mental issues is planning to shoot up another school destroying the lives and hopes of many families. Or maybe you might be able to witness another immigrant family moving to this country with hopes and dreams to achieve great things only to end up separated; you might see those innocent children sleeping in cages, wrapped in foil paper. And if you look closely enough, maybe, just maybe, you will have a chance to stop it, but YOU ARE NOT KITANA, ONLY I AM.

(Lightsnaredrumming)

-And if you look closely enough, then maybe you can see how fucked up our government is. Maybe you can finally OPEN your eyes and see how every elementary school is unprotected with no police officers. Meanwhile, teenagers enter that school destroying many lives and ending the hopes and dreams of so many families. Maybe you can see how the government doesn’t care about this.

(DRUMS)

And if you go near the border, maybe you can see what I see: thousands of families escaping poverty and violence, risking everything they have to live the American dream only to get separated by the fake government that tries to “help us.” Maybe then you can pray to be KITANA. Everyone respects KITANA. She is strong, powerful, and eager to stand up for her beliefs! KITANA is strong and doesn’t cry when she sees this news. KITANA doesn’t feel hopeless; she is a force to be reckoned with, so powerful, but I am not KITANA, nor will I ever be able to be like her.

(DRUMSPLAYLOUDLY)

If only I were Kitana, then maybe I would have a chance to change the world, but who am I? I am only another low-income Hispanic left with no voice, eager to scream but unable to make a sound. IF ONLY I WERE KITANA.

(DRUMSPLAYEDLOUDLY,THENSUDDENLYSTOPPED).