Big Mouth Thunder Thighs: A Solo Vaudeville
By Bess WeldenDirected by Reis Myers McCormick
Presented by Pegasus Theatre
Audience Rating: MA (Mature Audiences) Not recommended for children.
Running Time: 60 minutes with no intermission
Accessible Seating: Available
Hearing Devices Available: Not available
Sensory-friendly Showing: Not available
ASL Showing: Not available
Noises and Visuals to Prepare For: Strong language.
Production Sound/Lighting Level: Comfortable
Reviewed by Eddy Herring
Words. Words are so powerful. We don’t often realize that the words we choose have the ability to uplift or destroy a person. Even seemingly harmless comments, if made at the wrong time, can affect someone deeply. I remember the summer before 5th grade, and we were back-to-school shopping at JC Penney (in a year too far back to mention.) You know that age when you’ve not quite hit puberty and you are just awkward? We were looking for jeans and just couldn’t find the right size. My body had started growing “out” and not “up” just yet. I will never forget the sales lady (her nametag said “Sabrina”) coming over to offer us assistance, and saying, “Oh, you’re in the wrong section. You need to be looking in our husky department for his size.” I will never forget how humiliated it made me feel then, and how much it affected the rest of my self-conscious adolescent years.
Big Mouth Thunder Thighs is light-hearted, yet poignant journey through a woman’s life, masterfully portrayed by Shauna Holloway, as she struggles with body image, perfection, and her ever-present, inner critical voice. Holloway narrates the ups and downs and pressures of her self-critical journey through a wonderful mix of realism and perfectly timed comedic tangents that keep our emotions in check. Just as things get too serious, she interjects with a humorous “death defying stunt,” a clever song parody, or a side conversation with "Skinny Bitch" (or "SB")…her inner critical voice that is always present in her mind. Holloway was so convincing that there were times I forgot I was watching a play, and she was telling me her story. She is so relatable as she recounts times in her life when someone said something that triggered her insecurity and self-loathing. And, "SB" is always there to reinforce the negativity and ensure her that she is nowhere near perfection. Thankfully, she finally realizes that there is no ideal of perfection and that she is great just the way she is. I was very moved by her authenticity, and her performance was nothing short of brilliant.
I must admit that, as a male, I was triggered by the content of this show. I could feel her pain and can only imagine the tremendous pressures that females of all ages go through all their lives. Should you diet? Should you starve yourself to fit into that dress? Should you have cosmetic procedures to stay young looking? The Kardashians, the “Housewives,” the Bachelor…all completely and horrifically unrealistic ideals that plague our society and have ruined the self-image of so many beautiful humans. This play addresses all of this, and you should be prepared to “feel.”
The set by D. Aiden Wright is simple with a kitchen, "SB" on a stool, and other props and items used throughout the performance. Props by Trinity Gardner and Sheila D. Rose and costumes by Michael Robinson were well suited for transitional scenes and quick changes. Lighting by Cooper Mitchell and sound by Lowell Sargeant were perfect for this intimate space. High praise for director Reis Myers McCormick for casting and staging.
I highly recommend seeing this show. Bring a friend or group of friends. You will definitely have some things to talk about afterwards. My “plus one” and I stood in the parking lot for over an hour talking about what we had just seen and the emotions it stirred within each of us. The show runs through June 22 at the Bath House Cultural Center at White Rock Lake. The space is intimate and perfect for this piece. Tickets are available online at https://pegasustheatre.org/
Go See the Show!
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