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Something Something New Vagina

Reviewed by Lovell Estell III

Eclectic Company Theatre

Through Feb. 1

RECOMMENDED:

The well-publicized, recent suicide of Ohio transgender teen Leelah Alcorn tragically underscores the persistent hostility, ignorance and bigotry that confront the men and women of the transgender community. Fortunately, there are people like artist, performer and educator Rebecca Kling who, in her heartfelt and informative solo show tells her own engaging –- and refreshingly positive — story of transformation. 

She begins the show with a brutally frank and moving letter to her own body that she wrote; it crystalizes the fear, joy, sadness and anticipation of the moment shortly before her surgery. From there, she revisits a trip to Cincinnati where she performed at the Fringe Festival, and dissects this key event in her new life as a performer and a post-op transgender.

It isn’t until a while into the piece where she delves into the deeper issues of her life before and after, probing the emotional, sexual and psychological hurdles she encountered. This accents the one glitch in this piece, which is a need for a more orderly narrative structure.  Kling is a gifted raconteur, possessing an easy listening style, keen eye for details, and a knack for description, but she also has a biting, infectious sense of humor that is no better on display than when she demonstrates the new process of peeing, or talks about the world of feminine sanitary products. 

A  Q-&-A afterwards is not only informative but also features some bold, unforgettable moments of anatomical display. 

The Eclectic Company Theatre, 5312 Laurel Canyon Blvd., Valley Village; Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m., Sun., 7 p.m., through Feb. 1. (818) 508-3003, www.eclecticcompanytheatre.org