Year of the Slut
nytheatre.com review by Ed Malin
February 26, 2011
Year of The Slut is one woman’s poetic journey towards getting the love she wants. From her coming to New York as an 18 year-old virgin through some awkward experiences, JJ turns 25 and is given some life-changing advice: 25 is the year of the slut. Yes, it is time to stop being such a good girl and get busy.
There is definitely some evocative poetry in this show. JJ goes into her own world, leaving the narrative, reciting with obvious fulfillment and sex appeal, and sometimes doing gymnastics. We can tell by the end of the story that she has met someone who encouraged her poetry.
Of course, this character, portrayed by the show's author, Jennifer Lieberman, has had her share of adversity. An overbearing mother calling from Toronto to try and put her in her place. Abominable man-hunting experiences on JDate.com (although I’m not sure if there is any other kind). An attraction to gay men from a young age, which leads to sorrow (“Damn you Elton John!”) It’s frustrating enough to make her say some oddly sexist things. If one man can’t figure out how to pleasure a woman, what’s the point of taking on two at a time? Things like that.
Fortunately, the New York-centered poetry kicks in and shows how her character is feeling. I found this more effective than the list of male inadequacies which litters the first half of the show. Jeff Murray and Louis B. Crocco’s direction takes Lieberman’s character through an evolution from more or less naïve to actualized. Choreography by Danielle Hobbs, plus the memorable songs of those years, greatly deepens the portrayal.
