LESBIHONEST

Pitchin’in Productions—The Cinematheque

Let’s be honest, here (see what I did there?) I went to see LESBIHONEST (Venue 7, Cinematheque) as a time-killer between other shows. It was a whim, really. I wasn’t too sure what to expect. What I got was a delightful and incredibly funny hour-long stand-up comedy routine from the charismatic and charming Laura Piccinin. I’m a straight male in my 50’s, and I at first wondered if this show would be for me, or geared towards a more specific audience. This show is actually for anybody (and everybody) who’s ever struggled to fit in anywhere, who ever questioned their identity, or fought to find their place in the world. Laura’s personal stories are laugh-out-loud funny and delivered with fantastic comedic timing. I found myself swept along with her monologue from beginning to end, and loved every minute of it. It’s not often that a performer can make me laugh almost non-stop for a full hour, but Laura succeeded. Do yourselves a favour and catch this show before the Fringe ends; you’ll be glad that you did.

Mike Seccombe

LESBIHONEST

Pitchin’in Productions—The Cinematheque

As a fellow member of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, or as I prefer to affectionately call it “the alphabet soup umbrella”, Pitchin’in Productions paints an honest storytelling of one woman exploring and coming to terms with her sexuality. And yes, it includes all the fun (insert sarcasm here) of those honest conversations/scenarios that come with the messiness of “gay-dolescence”.

I appreciated Laura Piccinin’s cadence and authentic address of how coming out is not a single act, but it is an active and constant process. Piccinin takes one hour to condense 35 years of queer personal stories. The hardship of that journey was palpable during this show. She takes the time to tell one story that Fringers may personally identify with in their own way, or, and what I find is powerful, the comedy mixed with storytelling provides perspective to others. In a world where everyone is having difficulty connecting, and queer communities are under constant uphill battles, gaining that perspective is crucial.

Stephanie Natalya