Lauren Vinopal's "Lady Parts" is billed as a one-woman show but is closer to a stand-up show, albeit a fairly thematically unified one. Vinopal's stated topic is what happens to a tomboy when she grows up and has to deal with her discomfort with her own femininity, though this is not deeply explored. Most of the material centers around the fairly standard tropes of urban and university life, such as sex and drinking. While the subject matter is not particularly innovative, the execution is enjoyable.
Vinopal definitely has the promise of a great comedian; she's witty, thoughtful and energetic, with the humorist's ability to turn the commonplace on its head and turn it into something bizarre and wonderful, yet somehow true. The 22-year-old's act is simultaneously impressive and in need of some seasoning. As with any artist that age, the best advice is probably, "get older," which of course is exactly the theme of her show.
The individual jokes are all very funny but they are not brought together into the kind of relentless crescendo that a great stand-up act requires. Vinopal's best bits are the ones involving her family, especially her cantankerous grandmother and her well-meaning father, both of whom manage to get in fights often.
"Lady Parts" is a good piece by a talented newcomer, but it's safe to say her next show will be better.
Reviewed by Centerstage!
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