Esme Davis
Content Warning: Spoilers
Jen DiGiacomo guides the audience through a moving collection of stories and memories, opening a window into the life experiences of a group that are all too often silenced. Jen frankly recounts her experiences of a strict childhood, experiments with crossdressing, finding authenticity, and confronting the sexism and stigma that comes with labels.
The discussion around queer rights is as present now as it ever was, with queer people facing ever increasing levels of oppression. The most important voices in this discussion are often the least heeded, that being the voices of queer people themselves. Jen’s show therefore becomes an important and necessary statement within this context, as she raises her voice and gives her story of a mother moving through today’s world.
Jen has never been a stranger to secrets. From an uncomfortable feeling that she may have been responsible for a death, to the shame she feels for a hidden stutter, to a deeper crisis of identity, she begins her story in a place of uncertainty. The narrative slowly fleshes out her life, beginning with her present relationship with her children. Jen finds a chilling note from her youngest child, kicking the show off with a nail-biting recount of an experience that no mother ever wants to go through. From there, she rewinds back to her own childhood. The show is a collage of corners and challenges that Jen has faced as she navigates her journey from then to now. Although there are moments that could benefit from more clarity at the beginning of the piece, the knitting together of each thread at its conclusion is both satisfying and intelligently arranged, the non-linear structure allowing Jen to introduce questions and give their answers in a way that keeps you engaged throughout.
The storytelling within this show is authentic and frank; it is dramatic without being exaggerated, shocking without being inflated. There were many moments where the audience let out a collective gasp as Jen doesn’t hold back her day to day struggles. Helping lift the tone of the dark content being discussed, her delivery is intimate and conversational. She directly addresses the audience throughout the performance, maintaining eye contact and inviting us to share in her feelings. Occasionally, a member of the audience would be momentarily cast as a character within the story, and become the second party in an intense, soulful confession that leaves you fully confronting the weight of the events being described.
The simplicity of the production elements successfully keeps the emotions in the spotlight. There is no need to make this work more dramatic; the story does the heavy lifting. The most notable use of tech is the PowerPoint, which flicks through key words and images, mostly words that were difficult for Jen to say out loud at that point in her story. Suppressed secrets and confessions, this creates an interesting visual texture to a show which is heavily spoken. There are moments where the content on the slides feels a little disconnected, but for the most part this is a creative way of showing what was not actually said.
This show succeeds in painting a detailed, personal and soulful picture of difficulties and triumphs. There are several moments of very dark content, but these themes were inescapable for Jen and are important for the audience to witness so they can fully understand the message being stated.
Gripping, genuine, and importantly revealing, this show opens a door into the depths of Jen’s existence and leaves you with an open heart.
Recommended Drink: A glass of red wine from the bottle you’ve been saving for a special occasion.
You can catch Woman in the Arena at Jade Studio at Greenside @ George Street from Aug 8-9, 11-16, 18-23, at 13:45. Tickets are available through the EdFringe Online Box Office.
Jake Mace
Lamesha Ruddock
Jasmine Silk
