Jadwiga Green performs to us at the very top of the BATS Tower, the Studio. She walks in and immediately captures this small stage, makes it her own – myself and the audience with it.  There is a screen on stage that flicks through various slides as her story progresses. Unfortunately the spot lights are aimed at the ground so we miss the facial expressions of this clever comedian.

I perceive a little opening nervousness as she shares her story of becoming and being part of the Trans Community, with wonderful insightful moments of intelligent humor. Mental health could be an uncomfortable subject but Jadwiga takes our hand and makes us laugh through stories that have been painful and heart breaking.  

We feel what she’s come through and there’s a solidarity imparted through the audience. She gifts that to us. There’s an easy intimacy circulating the room.

Jadwiga describes being pan-sexual living in Wellington, with impressions of how to spot gays in other cities via their dress codes.  The accuracy of these descriptions have us nearly rocking the Studio. There’s also something endearing about how she puts this together, weaving her own experiences throughout, extracting the humor in a clever and heartfelt way. We can’t deny this honesty. 

A serious and impassioned talk on the stereotypical ideology expressed by straight men towards the LGBTQ communities leads Jadwiga to a showcasing of vintage, colonial, straight-couple styles that go hand in hand with white privilege. It’s hysterically funny and right on the nail. 

Jadwiga moves to body image, sizing in relation to sexuality, her own personal ‘industrial’ size peppered with the Jacinda effect and what it’s like to go through reconstructive surgery. Can’t hold back my imagination on that one but no spoiler alerts from me. You have to go yourself!

Was it really that easy coming out to parents, I wonder, as we share more laughter?

Then, on the subject of satisfying men, she returns to honest dialogue about sexuality in life – and again, there’s that fine balance of serious humor that Jadwiga has mastered.

I believe I’m with the audience in thinking how much we love her breaking the comedic mold.

Jadwiga’s brand of stand-up comedy makes room for the truth. She’s refreshing and rejuvenating. I come away admiring what a strong feminist she is, her voice leads change and what better way to stir the masses than with humor. 

Copyright © in the review belongs to the reviewer