Mangina
Amanda Monroe has a story to tell about her life and (several times over) near deaths – and it’s a wonderful story to hear.
The Spare Room is a perfect small venue for a very intimate show, and it allows us a very up close and personal experience with Amanda.
We share the tragedy of a life lived with another gender trying to break free, but the circumstances and prejudices of the time dictate an easier road through lying.
Amanda tries to become the boy her parents expect her to be – sporty, academic – an achiever – while secretly lusting after a wear of the beautiful white dress that she saw as a 3 year old.
Living the lie is a road filling with ways to push the girl away – work, alcohol, drugs, food, until the petrifying moment of acceptance of how she needs to live her life to be happy.
Thankfully with understanding mentors, and drugs of a more positive nature, she’s with us today to share her story with humour and warmth, and it was well worth the wait.
PS Note: while the Spare Room is very cute, the chairs are a challenge – cushion headsup.
Mangina is at The Garden of Unearthly Delight until the 18 March
Eds note: Amanda Monroe was in the 2011 Adelaide Fringe in the show Drags Aloud.
