Lovely Lady Lump
Michelle Palansky | CBC News | Posted: July 14, 2016 7:10 PM | Last Updated: July 15, 2016
THREE STARS | Lana Schwarcz brings a wry, cockeyed perspective to her yearlong breast cancer treatment
Rating: ★★★
Company: Lana Schwarcz, Melbourne
Genre: Play — Comedy
Venue: 5 — Son of Warehouse
It's cute. Lana Schwarcz's one-woman variety show features Cancer as a stand-up comedian, Estrogen as a bountifully endowed shadow puppet, a little song, a little dance, and a lot of bare bosom.
A fearless, vulnerable, and joyful performer, Schwarcz brings a wry, cockeyed perspective to her yearlong breast cancer treatment.
It is a little triggering for those of us who have gone through the process, and Schwarcz gives the audience fair warning. Her projection work is particularly effective in replicating the radiation therapy experience.
Lovely Lady Lump is a quickie cancer junket rather than a thoughtful cancer journey. - Michelle Palansky
Bear in mind that Schwarcz went through treatment in Australia. When she complains about waiting days for her biopsy results, it rings a little hollow for patients in this country. Canadians can wait six weeks.
My main critique is that the show doesn't feel terribly fresh. Even the hyped up, opening night crowd seemed to grow weary of the one-liners. Lovely Lady Lump is a quickie cancer junket rather than a thoughtful cancer journey.