52 monologues, 2 performers, and a uniquely brilliant show.
My initial reaction to this show is to give it 1 star for blatantly lying to me. This show does not contain 52 monologues! What this show does contain however, is tremendous comedy mixed with disturbing visuals and dialogue and incredible bravery. I shall forgive the lack of 52 monologues but only because this production is quite frankly astounding and one of the most unique and affecting pieces of theatre I have ever seen.
52 Monologues for Young Transexuals stars Laurie Ward and Charli Cowgill performing both their own words and the words of the trans women they interviewed as part of this show. This production was a smash hit at the Edinburgh Fringe and it is now making its London debut at the Soho Theatre, and it is certainly a memorable debut.
As you walk into this show, you are asked, very politely, whether you would spit into a small plastic cup. This is immediately rather unsettling and the cup on spit sits ominously under a stool at the back of the stage until it is used in the first of many incredibly shocking and disturbing moments. I shall not spoil how it is used, but it is the most effective and impactful tone shift I have ever seen in theatre.
It is important to say, this show is also very funny. After feeling slightly uneasy after being asked to spit into a plastic cup, I was put at ease incredibly quickly by the clever writing and sheer force of charisma of Laurie and Charli. The performances are slick and smoothly choreographed when they need to be, and messy and free flowing when they need to be. All in all incredibly impressive and captivating to watch.
A special mention does need to go to Ed De’Ath, the technical designer and operator. As Charli and Laurie are talking, the names of the people whose words they are speaking appear on the 2 TVs set behind them. Sometimes their own names, sometimes the names of others. The speed at which they switch between different names is impressive and I dread to think how much practice and preparation this must have taken to get all of the timings bang on. The other technical aspects of the show, including the music and lighting, was very well done and helped to create the party fun atmosphere at the beginning, and really helped to sell the shift into the more dark and disturbing moments.
I want to recommend this show to everyone, but I also can say with some certainty this show is not for everyone. It is disturbing and shocking and I do recommend, if you have any concerns, to check the extensive content warnings prior to seeing this show. 52 Monologue for Young Transexuals is playing at the Soho Theatre until the 16th March.