A play on the collections of ‘52 Monologues for Boys’ and ‘52 Monologues for Girls’, Nothing More to Say’s 52 Monologues of Young Transexuals, performed in The Attic at Pleasance Courtyard, walks audiences through the good, the bad, and the downright traumatic experiences of being a young trans person. Sex, dating, friendships, fashion – you experience all of this and more alongside two trans women who are still finding their footing themselves.
In a collection of excerpts from interviewing other trans women, leading women Charli and Laurie use dance, comedy, and heartwrenching performances to explain their, and dozens of other’s, experiences of being young, trans women. From one minute to the next, you’ll never be able to guess what’s coming next, starting from the minute you spit into a cup upon entry (yes, really) to the close of this bold show.
The raw honesty present throughout 52 Monologues of Young Transexuals might be too much to handle if it wasn’t performed with such earnestness. Both Charli and Laurie bring enough energy to bring the house down in a venue much larger than anything the Fringe has to offer, but it’s really their clear chemistry and genuine friendship that carries the show.
When Charli cries, you cry. When Laurie ushers you in on the joke, you feel a part of their goofy, loud friendship. The overwhelmingly pink set pairs well with their joint exploration of femininity – and how this can end up feeling like a trap.
Once the duo leaves the pink sparkly world of their into and journey into darker topics and emotions, there’s a reliance on shock value that might have been better served in moderation. Nonetheless, trust the pair of them to find that balance between trauma and comedy that a show this frank certainly needs.
If you stick with 52 Monologues of Young Transexuals and let its humour soothe the traumatic events it walks you through, you’ll be sure to end up on the happy note that, as Charli says, is more than enough for now.
