As a British woman living in LA, I cannot tell you how I thirst for British humor. I don’t obsess over it of course, or pine, or even mention it…I am British after all. But, when given the chance to get my fix, so to speak, I am thrilled, ecstatic and very, very grateful.
Now that I have set the scene, on to the play, and what a treasure of a play it is. Fiona Goodwin is perhaps an unlikely superstar. She is adorable and warmly and wisely beautiful, but not flashy and naturally bold. She skillfully and hilariously relates her fascinating life journey. From born-again Christian to teaching in inner city schools in the UK, wandering the South American jungles as part of an acting troupe, training to become a nun in the Alps and trying every kind of therapy imaginable - even a Monty Pythonesque exorcism - all in an attempt to “cure” her from her love for her glorious own fair sex.
She has lived her life with the kind of classic British stiff upper lip that has prevented her from embracing her true self until quite recently, despite one secret love affair that lasted years. Oh, how the British love their closeted lives. The repression, the clinging to “what’s normal” as if that has ever even existed, especially in the UK, the kingdom of the kinky.
Fiona Goodwin is a hero quite frankly.
How she has survived her wandering and her passionate and mostly unreciprocated love affairs with her marbles intact is a bit of a miracle. But thank goodness she has or we would never be able to share in her brilliant, touching, poignant and absolutely hilarious stories.
It’s all so cleverly put together too, with helpful images projected behind her like some wonderful holiday slideshow of her crazy and inspiring life. Fiona gamely acts out certain iconic and life-changing moments, which is magical and preciously funny. Her dry delivery and brittle observational humor draw the audience in from the moment she begins to speak. In short, I loved it.
A Very British Lesbian is exactly what a solo show ought to be…deeply personal, revelatory, funny and engaging with an actor who is willing to share everything.
Fiona Goodwin does all this and the result is absolutely fabulous…Bravo!!
Fiona is touring nationally and internationally with her show and I wish her the very best of British luck, although she needs none, I’m positive that everyone will love her as much as I do.
Fiona Goodwin is: “A Very British Lesbian”
Directed by Wendy Hammers
Zephyr Theatre (7456 Melrose Ave, LA 90046
May 27, June 3/10/17/24 at 6pm, & July 1st at 7pm
- A Very British Lesbian
- Fiona Goodwin
- Zephyr Theatre
- Wendy Hammers
- review of A Very British Lesbian
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