This Edinburgh preview show by Grace Petrie is a new departure: tonight there will be none of her huge singer/songwriter talent on offer.
No songs: as the title suggests, this is a telling of the struggles in her life not just as a lesbian, but in particular as a ‘butch’ one. You know, short hair, trousers not skirts, all that.
This is stand-up in a way; there are jokes in it and she knows, along with her many other talents, how to be funny. But it’s really about her story from childhood on (when it’s OK to be a ‘tomboy’ – but not after puberty), and coping with her growing knowledge of her sexuality, and the adverse attitudes towards her because of that; from family, from school, and eventually even from other lesbians, and lately from trans people as well (Why?).
But there’s no self-pity, just an open, totally honest account of the pains and loneliness felt by her and other butch lesbians, as a minority within a minority, and her coming to terms with that.
But, as always, she’s steadfast in her radical approaches to feminism, LGBT rights; and justice, fairness and compassion in all politics, including gender politics.
She brooks no nonsense, though, from some of the extremist trans rants (see the anagram there?) against her, and the show ends with witty and powerful polemic on all fronts.
The piece at the moment is a little rough and ready, and she clutches a script throughout; but it will undoubtedly be sharper by the time it hits Scotland.
Petrie is a unique and inspiring talent, and makes fair play to be a National Treasure. We’re lucky to have her.
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Reviewer: John Christopher Wood
