Luke LoCascio Journal #2

I saw the short film How to Shave. In the final moments of this piece the person on stage was passionately talking about who their father was. They were covered in shaving cream and looking distraught. I think it was done to show the impact that their father had on them. Through out the entire piece they talked about him and how he had helped shape their life. The character played seemed very real, the piece started and it was hard to tell if the entire story of the father was simply part of the character or the very person was trying to convey a story to the audience. It was clear that how to shave was more of a way to bring up their family life and more specifically their farther. There was a lot of emotion and care in the piece that was unexpected. I had assumed it would be more comedic until they began talking about their father. What confused me the most was the gender identity in this piece. It was clearly part of it, talked about in the first part and used or brought up every so often. Though it felt like it came third to everything else. It was not the person talking about their father nor did it have much to do with shaving though I can see how it is. Much of the elements to the story seemed to barely stick together. Parts just felt weird as a topic would jump to something else or bring in something unrelated. To make it clearer I would bring more context or talk about why or not leave things to be as vague as they seem in the story.

For the only character on stage, Conner wanted to feel like themselves and be comfortable in their own shoes.

To get what they wanted Connor would shave. Shaving would lessen their body hair would would help them feel more fluid or more to what they truly wanted to be. However with shaving they would also feel less like a man which they had also wanted to be. Since if you are too much of one or the other could you really be fluid. This was one of their most concerning thoughts.

shave

dress

pretend

I did think the piece was ok, I didn't love it but I did think it was good. If it didn't feel so scattered at time I would have enjoyed it far more. Though in the end It was good however I properly wouldn't recommend it unless the person was into this kind of performance.

I most connected to the part where they talked about how their father was sick and dying. This relates me to me, I really felt it as I've recently reconnected with my own father however. He is in a similar situation where his health is not great but he is trying to stay around for much longer. It reminds me of how everything must end even when people try to keep it going for as long as they can. Not everything can be changed no matter how hard people try.