Ang R. Bennett gives a multilayered performance as D, the director of the community center.  The typical formula for this type of character is that it’s a stodgy authority figure who disdains the new teacher and his or her radical ideas and methodology and is an active opponent of the kids.  Bennett and the script turn that on its head.  True, Bennett’s D does have some misgivings about Mama’s teaching methods and style, but that is largely because they believe Mama isn’t fully tuned in to the difficulties of modern times.  D truly has the kids’ best interests at heart and wants to bring Mama’s thinking into the present so she can better help the kids in her etiquette class.

Ang Bennett has a moving performance as Fiona/Adrian.  Unlike Alice, Fiona always had confidence and certainness in who she was and seems to maintain that confidence when she decides to make the transition to Adrian.  Ironically, as Adrian, he begins to lose some of that confidence as he overreacts to not being accepted as a man immediately.  And Alice’s seeming rejection of Adrian causes him to nearly sacrifice his identity out of love.  Bennett handles some difficult scenes gracefully, especially one where Adrian practically begs his brother to physically fight him to feel like a man.