BY ANNA STALTARI ’28

Benched by Finn Krol ‘27 is a play written with camaraderie, passion, humor, and love for roller derby at its core. Performed on September 16th and November 24th, both readings were filled with lively spirit, telling the heartwarming story of Andrew Yepez (Benjamin Torres ‘29) or “Like Blockwork” as they’re known in the world of derby. Block is a high school senior, about to graduate from the junior league of skating, but a tragic injury has led him to be benched for the remainder of his final season. The show follows his internal monologue as he watches his team, the Cloverdale City Coyotes, compete in the 2024 Junior Roller Derby Association Championships.

At the start of the play, I was immediately dropped into the world of a roller derby competition, as the announcer (Emile Sentveld ‘28) read off the names of all the skaters: Penny Pick’em Off (Bella Bradley ‘29), Finn McMissile (Zach Marconi ‘29), Sir Skates a Lot (Danny Pavkovic ‘29), Hiker (Nathan Vardi ‘28), Queenie (Charynna Pe Benito ‘29), Fidget (Ellie Rosser ‘28), Junie B. Juked (Sydney Baig ‘26), Ride or Die (Tali Lissai ‘28), Count Smackula (Pamela Marte Feliz ’29), Ants N’ Ur Pants (Sophie Komssi ‘29), Tank (Theo Perkins ‘28), and their coach, Hot Wheelz (Evvy Shoemaker ‘28). The cast came in as the team and took their seats; the stakes high for the game they were about to play. As brilliantly articulated by Krol in the script, the players began to prepare for their competition, and I watched the bench of skaters watch the track, where the skating was about to take place beyond the fourth wall. After a brief explanation of the flow of gameplay by Block and their best friend, Ants N’ Ur Pants, a whistle indicated the start of the first jam!

Throughout each of the jams, Block’s monologues revealed a series of lessons that they learned from their time in derby. Eloquently delivered by Torres in a meaningful contrast to the high energy of the rest of the show, these moments of reflection felt honest and vulnerable.

Block describes his starting of the sport as therapeutic in a sense, providing him with not only a community to be a part of, but a way of expressing himself when no other words or actions felt right. “Big feelings for [Block] meant big reactions,” and derby quickly became an outlet for him. As he grew to love the sport, he quickly felt how finite his time was with the junior league, acknowledging that “everything good comes to an end.” This moment was especially powerful, as I felt there was a strong sense of understanding shared throughout the audience. In thinking about my own life and the great things that have come and gone, I truly felt the weight that Block described in knowing that his time with the Cloverdale Coyotes was almost over.

Also, throughout the play, Block shared more about their injury and how much pain it caused them both physically and mentally. As I followed each of his teammates in their emotional journeys during the competition, I noticed Blocks struggle to accept his fate on the bench for the rest of the season—as clearly portrayed by Torres—until finally coming to terms with the fact that “[he] can’t control what [he] can’t control.” Instead, Block turned their energy into helping support his team’s morale. I was particularly moved by a moment in which Coach Hot Wheelz honored his dedication to the team and let him coach for the last Jam. When reflecting on the positive impact that his words had on his team, Block reveals that they were “just showing up for people how people have shown up for [them],” feeling gratitude and pride amongst their pain.

But Block was never alone. Ants always had his back. In describing the accident that resulted in Block’s injury, Ants delivers a heartbreaking monologue about the importance of their friendship to her. My tears welled up as Komssi embodied the fear and emotion that Ants felt as Block was taken to the hospital. I could sense Ants’ understanding that her time skating with Block was limited, and that she just wished that he would be okay, The whole monologue was a beautiful love letter to friendships—especially those which are formed while sharing what we love to do with others.

Flashing back to the present time of the Championship, it was clear that Block not only coached themself through finding strength and determination within his pain, but he helped his teammates, keep composure and instilled within them confidence when all hope felt lost for the outcome of the score. Even without being able to skate, his efforts and leadership throughout earned them all the trophy. It was an incredibly emotional moment to see Coach Hot Wheelz acknowledge Block for their dedication to the team and ask him to be the Assistant coach for the following year, and the celebration of the whole team felt magical.

Ultimately, Benched, by Finn Krol is a show that celebrates the togetherness of sports, and the beauty of finding a sense of belonging in a shared passion. With the help and hard work of Keya Shah (‘27) as Stage Manager, Krol created and directed a beautiful piece that perfectly encapsulates what it means to be a part of a team.

Photos by Logan Waugh

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Anna Staltari ’28 is a staff writer for the Skidmore Theater Living Newsletter